Mr. King's Things

June 25, 2012
There’s no faulting the taste of Mr. King, a young lion who wears a crown and has a charming house filled with chairs, teapots, umbrellas, and other objects. It’s his behavior that’s the problem: “As soon as one of his things becomes the tiniest bit old, he tosses it in the nearby pond and replaces it with a new one,” writes Côté as she pictures Mr. King chucking a tuba and chair into the water. Côté’s delightful artwork—which consists of a cast of childlike, crayon-outlined animals populating a cheerful, subtly textured world of swooping hills and pristine waters—makes her message about wastefulness go down easy. The book’s best moment occurs when Mr. King goes fishing and hooks a big ’un: a spread shows “the scariest-looking thing Mr. King has ever seen” launching itself toward the screaming angler (the giant “fish” is made up of Mr. King’s discards, with a coffee table for a head, chairs for a spine, and umbrella tail). While Mr. King’s abashed moment of enlightenment is rushed, it’s still a lighthearted take on the “reuse” component of reduce, reuse, and recycle. Ages 3–7.

July 1, 2012
Mr. King likes to toss out his old things in favor of new ones, until he discovers recycling--with a little help from his friends. A silly cat named Mr. King likes "LOTS of new things." If something becomes a bit old, he "tosses it into the nearby pond and replaces it with a new one." One day, Mr. King goes fishing in the pond, and something really BIG tugs the line. Alarmed, Mr. King pulls hard and hauls in the "scariest-looking thing" he's ever seen. Screaming for help, Mr. King rows frantically to shore, towing the monster behind. While Mr. King hides, his friends arrive. All they find is an assemblage of discarded, useful things. Bert the bear can use the ladder, squirrels Skit and Scat turn a trumpet into a house, Old Jim Elk repairs an umbrella, P.J. the hare collects chairs to seat her family, and Tex the fox claims a table. When Mr. King discovers the monster is really his discarded stuff, he's embarrassed and opts to make some new things from the old. Busy, cheery mixed-media illustrations in blues, greens and yellows rely on flat patterns and loose outlines to humorously highlight foolish Mr. King's progression from thoughtless wasting to frantic overreacting to resourceful recycling. Waste not, want not. (Picture book. 3-7)

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October 1, 2012

PreS-Gr 2-Mr. King's home is filled with new things. Indeed, when they become "the tiniest bit old," the feline throws them in the pond, where they disappear from sight. Out of sight, out of mind. But one day while he is fishing, a monster emerges from the pond, bringing with it all of Mr. King's old possessions. Frightened, the wastrel runs away and hides while his friends come and pick from his discarded belongings, happily finding ways to reuse them. In the end, with the monster gone, Mr. King emulates his pals and comes to the realization that he also "likes to turn old things into new." Cote's bright and colorful mixed-media illustrations are charming and humorous, and the simple text will appeal to young readers. With a clear message to reuse and recycle, this picture book will supplement recycling collections.-Nancy Jo Lambert, Ruth Borchardt Elementary, Plano, TX

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.