Rate this book

The Tiny King (2013)

by Tarō Miura(Favorite Author)

3.44 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

0763666874 (ISBN13: 9780763666873)

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

publisher

Candlewick Press

review 1: This picturebook is translated from Japanese and there is something in the narrative that is lost in the cultural translation. There are certain undertones--bathing and sleeping together as a family and even the size differences--that do not sit well with my American/western sensibilities. The geometric illustrations and colors are fascinating and wholly energetic; however, the story truly suggests that only family life is worth living.
review 2: Unusual, striking. It stands out visually and the story is strong enough to back that up. This is a true Fantasy picture book, which is actually really rare - many have fantasy elements (talking animals, swings that go higher than the moon, characters that get out of their books and walk around), but those elements are... more usually designed to play off a child's natural imaginative take on the world. This one actually does some worldbuilding and tells a story within that world: yes it's bare-bones but I thought it was really phenomenal. The Tiny King is lonely, and his happy ending comes through marriage and having babies - it's not that way for everyone, but I don't think this book says the reader has to breed to be happy: I think it says the Tiny King had to breed to be happy. It's a subtle but important difference. less

Download links for: The Tiny King

Advertising