The Little Flower King [Hardcover]

Kveta Pacovska (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

The little flower king wants nothing in the world so much as to fill his kingdom with beautiful flowers. But when every acre has been covered with tulips, he realizes he still isn’t happy—he wants a princess. So he travels the world in search of her, only to return home sad and alone. It isn’t until he visits his garden again that he finds his princess, calling out to him from one of the newly blooming tulips. Brimming with bright colors and innovative die-cuts, this elegantly designed book is light-hearted, whimsical, and full of childlike splendor.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The engagingly homely title character cavorts across vibrant, fanciful landscapes in search of a princess and true happiness--ultimately finding both amid the petals of one of his tulips. Pacovska's ( One, Five, Many ) stylishly chaotic illustrations, featuring a pastiche of paint, pencil and collage, transform the insubstantial plot into an excursion through a surreal world of skewed proportons. Art, type and layout all contribute to the whimsy: small windows cut out of successive pages reveal the bulbous-nosed king peering out the front of the book and the newly married couple (who "had found each other at last") mugging out the back. With its ultramodernist aspect--and decidedly European look--the work may find greater favor among art enthusiasts than picture-book aficionados. Those harboring a penchant for the absurd, however, will deem it a garden of delights. Ages 3-up.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-- A multimedium, surrealistic spectacle, The Little Flower King has definite child appeal although it won't enchant realists. The little king peers at readers through cut-out squares in the cover and early pages. He plants lots of tulip bulbs and patiently waits for them to bloom. He realizes that he is not really happy; he needs a princess. After serious questing, the king finds his lady love in a tulip. Anything more complex would clutter the vitality of the illustrations, which are as bold and fresh as a first box of crayons set to paper. If Leo Lionni and the Cheshire cat teamed up in Wonderland, the results may have been much like this offering as these carefully crafted collages take on a rollicking, reckless abandon in Pacovska's hands. Some children will giggle, art teachers will be fascinated, and others will be puzzled, but few will forget this book once they have peeked through its windows. A sweet, simple fairy tale with none of the awkwardness of some translations. --Jody McCoy, Casady School, Oklahoma City
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Minedition (March 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0698400542
• ISBN-13: 978-0698400542
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 10.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,383,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful and memorable book., July 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Little Flower King, The (Hardcover)

Pacovska's story transcends age, and her artwork isextraordinary. I fell in love with the red-nosed king at firstglance, and this book is one of my all-time favorites. As the king searches for his princess and his happiness (which he finds), Pacovska's images work their magic on your memory, leaving a permanent and precious impression.