★ 06/13/2016
Babies rule the house. If they could talk, therefore, they would speak the way kings and queens do. Once Beaton (The Princess and the Pony) establishes her Boss Baby–esque premise, she runs with it. “I am King Baby!” a swaddled egg of an infant announces; golden rays emanate from him, and a tiny crown perches on his head. “Yes, come!” he continues, addressing a line of adoring grandparents, friends, and relatives, ready to pay homage. “You have been waiting for me. I will give you many blessings, for King Baby is generous.” The young parents, their chests puffed out with pride, stand guard by the infant bed. Later, King Baby sits on a blanket, holding his arms out for toys on the right side of the page. “Ehh bpp,” says his speech balloon—it’s what his parents hear—but the text reveals his royal instructions: “Now. Bring me the thing.” It’s less a story than an extended riff, but Beaton offers a sly, hilarious dig at the way young parents bow to their child’s every desire. Ages 4–8. Agent: Seth Fishman, Gernert Company. (Sept.)
Praise for King Baby:"Beaton brings a fresh, modern energy and spot-on pacing to the regal-baby theme, showing why comics artists like her have been redefining what picture books can do." — New York Times Book Review* "King Baby rules... Beaton keeps her book feeling fresh through humorous illustrations that expand on the wry text and never shy away from exposing the extent of King Baby's tyranny." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review* "Beaton offers a sly, hilarious dig at the way young parents bow to their child's every desire." — Publishers Weekly, starred review"Utterly charming and delightful, this book will merit countless readings." — BookishPraise for The Princess and the Pony:An ALA Notable Children's BookCBC Children's Choice Book Award Winner (Illustrator of the Year)Indies Choice and E.B. White Read-Aloud Book Award Finalist"I don't know how you make such a pretty book that has heart and wisdom and also a farting pony, but Kate Beaton does, and we are lucky that she does." — Jon Klassen, Caldecott-winning creator of This Is Not My Hat and I Want My Hat Back"It is the perfect, perfect book about girls, gender roles, and adorable ponies." — Cory Doctorow, boingboing.net*"[H]ip, modern, and absolutely refreshing... [T]his warrior princess breaks the mold — and Beaton is in a class of her own." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review*"It's a smart, brisk story that tosses aside conventional ideas of what princesses (and ponies) are 'supposed' to be." — Publishers Weekly, starred review*"A highly recommended, charmingly illustrated tale of teamwork and tenderness." — School Library Journal, starred review*"The perfect combination of heartwarming and hilarious." — Booklist, starred review
08/01/2016
PreS-Gr 1—Beaton brings her well-honed snarky humor to the arena of new baby books. From the first page, the smug, egg-shaped, crown-wearing infant proclaims, "I am King Baby!" The tiny tyrant's reign of terror follows, as crowds of adoring visitors lavish him with attention and affection while he runs his parents ragged with demands for feeding, burping, changing, and bouncing. As the story progresses, King Baby undergoes important milestones, gradually transitioning from a baby to a walking, trike-riding "big boy." Just when it looks like King Baby is ready to surrender his royal crown, his replacement arrives—a little sister, Queen Baby. Beaton's hyperexpressive cartoon illustrations create a hilarious visual counterpoint to the baby's authoritarian first-person narration; on one spread, exhausted parents slump on the couch as the infant gazes victoriously over the floor strewn thick with baby paraphernalia and says, "It is good to be the king." VERDICT Similar in spirit to Marla Frazee's The Boss Baby, this is a delightful and silly tale for soon-to-be-older siblings and their weary parents.—Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY
★ 2016-06-28
King Baby rules.In the first few double-page spreads, the swaddled, white, potato-shaped infant presides over an adoring, diverse crowd of admirers as his proud parents look on. “But your king also has many demands!” reads a later page, and his mother and father patiently meet those demands in illustrations that show them becoming increasingly exhausted. It’s a well-worn theme, reminiscent of Marla Frazee’s Boss Baby (2010), but Beaton keeps her book feeling fresh through humorous illustrations that expand on the wry text and never shy away from exposing the extent of King Baby’s tyranny. As King Baby gets older, he learns to crawl (the sequence showing this achievement is a triumph) and then becomes “a big boy” astride a toddler’s balance bike at the playground. No longer King Baby, the big boy wonders, “But what of these poor subjects? / Who are they, without a king? // And who will lead them if not I?”—and a wholly satisfying conclusion arrives with Queen Baby. Long live King and Queen Baby! (Picture book. 3-8)
