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Summary
Summary
This enthralling modern fairy tale from Caldecott and Newbery Honor winner Tomie dePaola and debut illustrator Doug Salati celebrates the greatest power of all: love.
In a small kingdom along an ancient road, a bell rings out. The beloved king has died, leaving his magnificent and powerful Imperial Robe to his heir, the young prince.
But when the prince's jealous older half-brother steals the Imperial Robe, slashing it to bits, the prince can no longer rule--and the small kingdom is in great danger. Now the young prince must find another source of power and of strength--and he finds it in a surprising place.
Author Notes
Tomie dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut on September 15, 1934. He received a B.F.A. from Pratt Institute in 1956, a M.F.A. from California College of Arts and Crafts in 1969, and a doctoral equivalency from Lone Mountain College in 1970.
He has written and/or illustrated more than 270 books including 26 Fairmount Avenue, Strega Nona, Meet the Barkers, Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs, and Oliver Button Is a Sissy. He has received numerous awards for his work including the Caldecott Honor Award, the Newbery Honor Award and the New Hampshire Governor's Arts Award of Living Treasure. His murals and paintings can be seen in many churches and monasteries throughout New England. He has designed greeting cards, magazine and record album covers, and theater sets. His work is shown in galleries and museums.
Tomie dePaola died on March 30, 2020 because of complications he had from surgery after a fall.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (4)
Publisher's Weekly Review
It is long ago, in a place "along an ancient road." The beloved old king has died, and the young prince is chosen to assume the throne. Though the prince is young and shy-and not much older than some in this book's target audience-he is thoughtful and gentle. "All agreed that the kingdom would be in good hands," writes dePaola. But the legendary imperial robe has gone missing, and everyone in the kingdom believes this "remarkable garment" gives the king magical powers to protect them. An evil plot is afoot-can it be thwarted? Debut illustrator Salati, a former Sendak fellow, works with the assurance of a seasoned pro; his illustrations, rendered in delicately textured pencil and earth-toned digital color, combine an old-fashioned sense of setting and character with a contemporary approach to casting (the kingdom is matter-of-factly multicultural, and the king's chief counselor is a woman). With its themes of ingenuity, generosity, and the enduring power of community, the story is a lovely and pointedly relevant tribute to those who truly confer legitimacy on any leader: the people. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Doug Whiteman, Whiteman Agency. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
When the king dies, the young prince is due to be crowned, but his older half-brother tears into pieces the Imperial Robe said to confer power upon the ruler. The story lacks logic (why didn't the older brother just take the robe for himself?), but the pencil and digital illustrations are expressively drawn and interestingly subdued in palette, looking both folkloric and sophisticated. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
In a small kingdom, a young heir ascends, a dastardly villain plots, and a magical robe saves the day.When the king dies suddenly, the citizens of the titular kingdom worry for the future, as their deceased ruler had warded off thieves and bandits with the aid of a magical imperial robe. The people rejoice when the beloved king's younger son is named the heir, but his older half brother vows to claim the throne for himself. He steals the robe, slices it to ribbons, and casts the pieces to the wind, certain that his younger brother cannot rule without the aid of magic. DePaola's latest is both a charming fairy tale and a valuable lesson reminding readers that true strength comes from love rather than brute force. Salati's arresting illustrations, filled with beautiful animal imagery, are like a Renaissance woven tapestry come to life. The illustrator makes expert use of the double-page spread to display the grandeur of the dead king, the otherworldly beauty of the blue and gold robe, and the charm of the townspeople who sew a new robe for their young ruler. The king's counselors are a nice mlange of young and old men and women; the protagonist is biracial, and his half brother is white.A triumphant story celebrating the ability of love, community, and cooperation to overcome any obstacle. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Before his death, a beloved king names his thoughtful and gentle younger son as successor. His counselors approve because they know the new sovereign will possess the Imperial Robe, a magical garment that grants its owner special powers. Resentful that he has been passed over, the crown prince's older brother secretly cuts the robe into pieces and flings it away, plotting to assume the throne himself when chaos ensues. DePaola's original story contains all the necessary components of a fairy tale: an innocent child, a jealous villain, and villagers whose love and respect for the king prompt them to reassemble the garment from its pieces, adding in their own precious fragments as well. Salati's mixed-media artwork (digitally colored charcoal and graphite drawings) depicts a distant, agrarian past, although the king's head counselor is a woman. Blues predominate the palette (particularly the original robe), with other hues used as accents, and fabric pattern details often reflect the kingdom's fauna. Perfect for reading aloud, especially for those preferring nonviolent tales.--Weisman, Kay Copyright 2018 Booklist