King Baby

Comic artist and cartoonist Kate Beaton, best known for her adult comic strip Hark, A Vagrant, produces her second children's book here, following upon her 2015 picture-book debut, The Princess and the Pony. Here an infant dispenses largesse to his many visitors and admirers - smiles, gurgles, kisses - but also demands a great deal from his primary subjects (AKA: parents). When his wishes aren't immediately understood and granted, he is motivated to begin moving on his own. The story concludes with the arrival of another royal: Queen Baby, the infant sister of King Baby...

An amusing look at the tyranny of infants, who can be charming, but who can also make themselves obnoxious when their wishes aren't immediately observed by those show more around them, King Baby strikes me as a story with particular significance for new parents, who will identity with the eponymous baby's harried 'subjects.' I almost feel that this is really more a new-parent story than a children's story, for all that it is published as a children's book, and tend to prefer Beaton's earlier The Princess and the Pony, which does feel like a narrative in which the child's experiences are central. Leaving that aside, this still has appeal, with Beaton's trademark sense of humor and entertaining visuals. Recommended to fans of the artist, and to new parents who vacillate between joy and despair when it comes to the new addition to their family. show less

I liked reading this book for many reasons. The point of view in this story is told by the king baby, who has just been born. This point of view makes the story funny to read because the baby looks at himself as royalty, his parents as subjects who don't know what they're doing and other people that he thinks he rules. The illustrations enhance the story. The story is already funny because its a book about a baby who thinks he's king, but the illustrations keep the reader engaged because they are funny and fit the style of the written text. The big picture of this story is be thankful for what you have because king baby had great parents, a lot of toys, and then got a queen baby.

It is good to be the king!
Beaton's humorous take on the transition from "King Baby" to "Big Boy" is funny, accurate, and a good choice for anyone who is about to introduce a new baby into the family. (See also: Julius the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes)

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Re-read June 2019

The illustrations in this book are adorable! I loved the story and thought it was very funny. It's told through the baby's point of view. He calls himself the king and rules everyone around. Of course since everyone loves him and thinks he's sweet they give him what he wants and do his bidding. I think everyone with a baby in the house can relate to this book.

I found this book to be very pleasant and actually depicts what most parents and any new baby may experience while being brought into this world. I enjoy the perspective and play on the fact that a new baby may feel like royalty and cries can be demands for attention or anything else and I enjoy the twist at the end of being able to grow up and allow someone to take your place and I think it is a great story for younger children who may be having a new sibling on the way.

I'm so happy that Kate Beaton is doing picture books now! King Baby is a demanding ruler, but he knows when to step down and allow the next monarch to have her reign.

The children's book "King Baby" is about a baby whom considers himself the king. The baby considers himself as the king because when he is first born, everyone wants to meet him, play with him and buy him gifts. He also thinks that he is king because he can order his mom and dad around "Change me" and "Carry me" he says. He starts wanting ti do things on his own as he says "Nothing will stop king baby". The book takes you through the sequence of being able to crawl and then walk and now he considers himself to be a "Big boy". The end of the book shows you how his "queen" meaning his little sister is born and that gets you to think what happens next, as you can talk to your students about it and they can make their own predictions and show more maybe write their own book about the "queen baby". I think that this story was very enjoyable and children will think that is hilarious. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and believe that students at any age would also love it. I would primarily focus on the younger grades maybe second grade and bellow. show less