The Queen's Feet

Queen Daisy's feet just get itchy for fun. Ellis's (The Several Lives of Orphan Jack) clever text and Petricic's (On Tumbledown Hill) amusing ink-and-watercolor illustrations juxtapose playfulness and propriety with uproarious results, and children will be delighted with the queen's propensity to get herself unintentionally into royal trouble. Petricic appropriately focuses most of the illustrations literally on feet alone, as the courtiers line up to dance or as Queen Daisy's feet kick off proper monarch shoes in favor of fuzzy dog slippers or sandals to show off her purple painted toenails. But when the monarch's feet haul off and kick a visiting bullying king in the shins, she (and her subjects) feels she must address her problem. "The queen and the queen's feet invited all the sages, wise women, wizards, fairy godmothers, and, of course, footmen, in the land to a meeting." Ellis's text brims with puns and eccentric details, and readers will revel in the wise advice of the Queen's counselors: "For one hour each day the queen's feet ruled." With its whimsical humor and its support for the importance of rebellion (in small doses), this foot-stomping read-aloud will please plenty of fidgety youngsters.

Copyright 2006 Publisher’s Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 1-Once upon a time there lived a queen with unruly feet. Instead of wearing royal shoes, they insist on sandals, fuzzy slippers, and heavy boots. They kickbox, tap dance, and do splits. Sometimes they walk off with the queen, interrupting her royal duties. While christening a ship, she finds herself climbing the rigging and landing head first in the crow's nest. Then one day her feet go too far and kick a visiting king in the ankle (in the feet's defense, he was a mean bully). Finally, her advisers find a solution: for one hour a day, the queen's feet can cut loose and run wild, provided they agree to wear proper shoes, walk quietly, and avoid puddles the rest of the time. Ellis's fun, spirited story matches well with Petricic's cartoon illustrations. The long, narrow book resembles a shoebox. Most of the spreads focus solely on the legs and feet, with muted colors for the properly behaved feet contrasting sharply with the queen's vibrant and altogether unruly ones. An energetic, fun story that will tickle the restless toes of children everywhere.

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"The slightly aghast oh-no-not-again tone of Ellis's narration is perfectly partnered with the impish sass and inspired silliness of Dusan Petricic's illustrations." - Quill & Quire "Ticklish delightful and stomping good time." - Curled up with a good kids book