King for a Day

Malik, a Pakistani boy who uses a wheelchair, is excited to compete in the annual kite-flying festival of Basant. Can his kite defeat the bully's and make him "King" of the festival?

Basant is here, with feasts and parties to celebrate the arrival of spring. But what Malik is looking forward to most is doing battle from his rooftop with Falcon, the special kite he has built for speed. Today is Malik's chance to be the best kite fighter, the king of Basant.

In two fierce battles, Malik takes down the kites flown by the bully next door. Then Malik moves on, guiding Falcon into leaps, swirls, and dives, slashing strings and plucking kites from the sky. By the end of the day, Malik has a big pile of captured kites. He is the king! But then the bully reappears, trying to take a kite from a girl in the alley below. With a sudden act of kingly generosity, Malik finds the perfect way to help the girl.

This lively, contemporary story introduces readers to a centuries-old festival and the traditional sport of kite fighting, and to a spirited, determined young boy who masters the sport while finding his own way to face and overcome life's challenges.

Rukhsana Khan is the author of several award-winning books published in the United States and Canada. Born in Lahore, Pakistan, she and her family immigrated to Canada when she was three. Khan's stories enable children of all backgrounds to connect with cultures of Eastern origins. The idea for King for a Day came to Khan one day when she was watching people practicing their kite lifts and dives. Khan lives with her husband and family in Toronto, Canada. Visit her online at rukhsanakhan.com and follow her on Twitter at @rukhsanabooks.

Christiane Krömer specializes in illustrating books for children that feature different cultures and ethnicities from around the world. She drew inspiration for the illustrations for King for a Day from numerous sources, including Mughal miniature paintings and the vivid colors, patterns, and folk art designs of Pakistan. A native of the former East Germany, Krömer now resides in Brooklyn, New York. Visit her online at christianekromer.com.