Welcome to the KINGDOM OF THINGDOM!
A number of years ago, I was talking with my son, Mose. Who was (and still is) an avid reader of picture books.
“Mommy,” said Mose. ”I wonder why there are books with robots in them, and there are books with superheroes in them, and there are books with dragons in them, and there are books with kittens in them. But there are no books with robots AND superheroes AND dragons AND kittens in them.”
In his mind, it only made sense that if you liked a bunch of things, you should put all the things together. (proven by the deliciousness of ice cream covered in cherries AND gummi bears AND M&Ms AND sprinkles)
“I don’t know why there are no books like that,” I said to Mose. ”Do you think we should try to make one?”
Mose thought that sounded like a good idea!
And so, tomorrow, many years later… I am pleased to announce the arrival of my new picture book, The King of Too Many Things! With candy-colored, perfectly-over-the-top art from Aurore Damant, and edited by my friend Eric Wight, this book is part of the very first season of Rodale Kids. I hope you’ll check it out, and I hope you’ll love it!
The King of Too Many Things is the story of King Jasper, a boy-king who has access to EVERYTHING HE WANTS. With a magical wizard for his advisor, and the realm at his command, there’s nothing to stop Jasper from living the dream. Except that, as he finds out…. sometimes, less is more.
The irony here, of course, is that even as this book teaches kids that they shouldn’t always get their heart’s desire… the book owes its very existence to the fact that, when my son asked for ALL THE THINGS IN A PICTURE BOOK, I did everything in my power to give him what he asked for.
Hmmm…
Hmmmmmmm….