Mr. King's Machine

Starred review from February 1, 2016
Mr. King--a vaguely lion-ish animal who stands upright--builds and uses an invention that harms his ecosystem in several ways. He quickly agrees with his friends' concerns and creates another that is beloved by all. "Mr. King likes flowers. He likes that they smell good and look pretty. So when he discovers one that has been chewed by a caterpillar, he is NOT happy." Crayon-outlined, tawny-tinted Mr. King, whose leonine ears sit astride an orange crown (possibly made of crepe paper), has an annoyed expression as he views a large chunk eaten from a green flower bigger than his head. Little ones will likely remember the cuddly-looking caterpillar on the title page, contentedly munching. The next page shows Mr. King tinkering with parts, his tongue out in concentration: "He quickly builds himself a Caterpillar-Catcher. Mr. King likes machines, too." As he zooms about on his tanklike machine, smiling and brandishing a butterfly net, dark puffs of watercolor smog fill the air. Various woodland and meadow friends, all with equally sweet and comical demeanors, work to apprehend their friend. A double-page spread fills with the reasons why Mr. King needs to change his ways, including the harm done by his machine as well as the importance of caterpillars. The text is simple, straightforward, and respectful, and the artwork is joyous and original. Environmentalism for the nursery. (Picture book. 2-6)

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February 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 2-The impetuous cat in a crown hat is back in Cote's third "Mr. King" book. Previous episodes have taught him to stop dumping his unwanted things in the water and not to build a bigger home with materials that deplete the land. Now he's polluting the air and tearing up the ground, all because a caterpillar has chewed a flower. His animal friends pursue him, but he can't hear them over the noise of his new machine. Only after he catches the distressed, perspiring caterpillar does he stop, look, and listen: "'KUF! KUF! Didn't you notice the smoke your machine was spitting out?' asks Old Jim Elk. 'Or the flowers you trampled?' complains Harriet. 'Why chase that caterpillar anyway?' asks P.J. 'It will become a butterfly one day!' 'And did you know that butterflies help flowers grow when they fly from plant to plant?' adds Tex." The clever and inventive Mr. King converts his creation into something that even a caterpillar can appreciate. The story is told with engaging simplicity, and the sound effects of Mr. King's Caterpillar-Catcher ("VROOM! VROOM!") will make it irresistible to read aloud. The mixed-media illustrations are, as in all of Cote's works, childlike, vivid, and immensely likable. VERDICT Add this title to any collection looking for books on community, cooperation, and the environment.-Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY

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