The King, the Princess, and the Tinker (Redfeather Books)

Eager to see the world, Princess Sweet Rosilla hitches a ride on top of the carriage in which her father, King John, is riding and begins a riotous adventure. By the author of Stargone John.

Grade 2-4-- This lighthearted fable will entertain young readers and acquaint them with the troubles that can be caused by greed and vanity. For several years, a foolish king has shut himself in a mirror-walled tower to gaze at his wealth and his own magnificent reflection. He neglects his kingly duties and his family, leaving his younger daughter yearning for attention. He deems that no one is worthy of looking at him, and threatens to behead anyone who does so. Over the years, his appearance changes, so that when an unexpected mishap dislodges his crown no one recognizes him. A poor but happy tinker happens by and suggests that they crown the king's oldest son, who is known to everyone. The man-who-had-been-king accompanies the tinker on his travels, and comes to see the world through that man's eyes. He returns home happier and wiser, ready to be a father to his daughter. Comparisons may be made with similar, older stories of greed and vanity, such as the Midas myth and Andersen's ``The Emperor's New Clothes.'' The stereotyped characters and the predictable ending are well suited to this tale, while the black-and-white line drawings capture the humor and some of the absurdity of the story. --Virginia Golodetz, St. Michael's College, Winooski, VT
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The author of Stargone John (1990), a perceptive, realistic story about a misunderstood 19th-century boy, offers an old- fashioned fantasy about a king who is so greedy that he devotes himself to admiring the treasures he keeps in his solitary tower- -and about the warm-hearted tinker whose simple wisdom has the effect of reuniting the king with his daughter, the Princess Sweet Rosilla. For years, nobody has been allowed to look at King John, not even his children; only sensible Rosilla has secretly disobeyed. Then as King John is taking one of his rare forays to view his kingdom, his crown falls off when his coach hits a bump; the tinker picks it up, thinking it must be an odd sort of pot, and is soon mistaken for the king--everyone has forgotten what he looks like. Though both tell the truth, no one knows what to believe; the eldest prince receives the crown, leaving former King John to enjoy getting acquainted with Rosilla, who knows perfectly well who he is. The obvious message about true worth is nicely integrated into a competently written, briskly moving tale with engaging characters and pleasing if mild humor. It doesn't have the rich texture or marvelous humor of E. Nesbit's stories, but it could start readers in her direction. An entertaining, easily read chapter book. Illustrations not seen. (Fiction. 7-11) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.