The Red Prince

by Charlie Roscoe, Tom Clohosy Cole (Illustrator)

Overview

A dramatic tale of escape and unity set against a frozen landscape.

When the young prince of Zapada is imprisoned by invaders, he needs all the help he can get to escape. As he flees dressed in his red pajamas, his captors are hot on his heels. But soon he realizes that he is not alone. The whole land of Zapada has joined forces to help him, each person dressing in red to confound and confuse his enemies. This exciting tale of adventure and escape is brought to life by the illustrator of Wall.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763689124
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	10/18/2016
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	978,518
Product dimensions:	9.90(w) x 11.40(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Charlie Roscoe was raised in Brighton, England, studied in Scotland, and lives in London. He loves traveling, eating, writing, and reading. The Red Prince is his first book.

Tom Clohosy Cole studied at Kingston University and is the author-illustrator of Space Race and Wall. He lives and works in London.

Editorial Reviews

08/22/2016
Game of Thrones this is not: debut author Roscoe and illustrator Cole (Wall) set this adventure in a modernish monarchy, and no one meets a gory end. But their story of a young prince defying an invading force while dressed in red pajamas certainly strives to tap into the high-stakes drama and chiaroscuro imagery of high fantasy. The invaders arrive as an eerie black-sail flotilla in the dead of a snowy night (one of Cole’s many bravura nocturnal images) after the unsuspecting inhabitants have “shut their doors and lit their fires.” Left alone by his parents, the Red Prince is captured and thrown into a dungeon, but he escapes with the help of his faithful dog, and a chase ensues across a frozen landscape. The people of Avala cleverly and sartorially rally to his cause, a turn of events that borrows a little from the classic “I am Spartacus” scene and a little from Where’s Waldo? Roscoe and Cole never let things get too dark or dire for the young prince, but the cinematic imagery and breathless escapes should keep the target audience rapt. Ages 2–5. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

[Roscoe and Cole's] story of a young prince defying an invading force while dressed in red pajamas certainly strives to tap into the high-stakes drama and chiaroscuro imagery of high fantasy...Roscoe and Cole never let things get too dark or dire for the young prince, but the cinematic imagery and breathless escapes should keep the target audience rapt.
—Publishers Weekly

A fable that attempts a spirit of community and loyalty.
—Kirkus Reviews

Through simple text and dramatic illustrations, this picture book from the illustrator of Wall (2014) tells a story about the power of community...Two-page spreads are interspersed with panels and single-page illustrations, adding a rhythm to the escape and chase.
—Booklist

A visually stunning work about a brave young boy and a people who come together to defend him. Sure to satisfy fans of fairy tales.
—School Library Journal

Viewers who enjoyed poring over the intricate artwork in Jones’ Beauty and the Beast (BCCB 3/14), though, may appreciate this folk-like tale.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Publisher

10/01/2016
K-Gr 3—In the absence of a boy's royal parents, strangers have invaded the island kingdom of Avala and imprisoned the young prince. Shortly after this disheartening start, the boy and his dog manage to escape. As the prince makes his way to the capital, his distinctive red pajamas draw the attention of his pursuers. Fortunately, the people are willing to help, and in their final act of defiance, the nation unites to save its beloved royal; the predominant blues get swept away by a sea of red. At all times, the illustrator's digital coloring is dazzling and evocative, establishing a tone of tension and courage. Even the background color of the text boxes reflects this by changing to tonal hues. As a whole, the visuals have a cinematic quality; shots are nicely framed and showcase a variety of perspectives to pull readers in. While the narration only summarizes events, some sequential images do flesh out the details. Older readers will find it difficult to believe that a horde of unarmed people could possibly drive an armed force away so peaceably. However, those who accept the fairy tale-like setting will have no problem seeing the charm of this optimistic tale. VERDICT A visually stunning work about a brave young boy and a people who come together to defend him. Sure to satisfy fans of fairy tales.—Rachel Forbes, formerly at Oakville Public Library, Ont., Canada

School Library Journal

2016-07-20
When a young prince is captured, the townspeople come to his aid in a surprising way.In the dark of night, strangers armed with guns sail to the land of Avala and seize the city. They grab the boy prince, still in his red pajamas, and imprison him in a tall tower. With the help of a sneaky canine, the prince escapes but must travel far to get back to his city. Like a cardinal in a stark winter scene, his red pajamas stand out against the snow, making him easy to track. When he finally gets home, the strangers are closing in. However, he flings open the city gates, and all his people are dressed head to toe in red. “The prince was invisible in a sea of brilliant color.” The crimson crowd spills over an immense, wordless double-page spread, hiding the prince and bringing him to safety. However, in a strange, final reach for tension that feels as though it were added to meet page count, the prince separates himself from the crowd to chase his dog and is cornered by the strangers once again, necessitating that the townspeople save him a second time. The prince and his royal parents are white, as are most, though not all, of the citizens of Avala. A fable that attempts a spirit of community and loyalty but falls a bit flat in storytelling. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews