Mr. King's Things (Mr. King #1)

There's no faulting the taste of Mr. King, a young lion who wears a crown and has a charming house filled with chairs, teapots, umbrellas, and other objects. It's his behavior that's the problem: "As soon as one of his things becomes the tiniest bit old, he tosses it in the nearby pond and replaces it with a new one," writes Cote as she pictures Mr. King chucking a tuba and chair into the water. Cote's delightful artwork--which consists of a cast of childlike, crayon-outlined animals populating a cheerful, subtly textured world of swooping hills and pristine waters--makes her message about wastefulness go down easy. The book's best moment occurs when Mr. King goes fishing and hooks a big 'un: a spread shows "the scariest-looking thing Mr. King has ever seen" launching itself toward the screaming angler (the giant "fish" is made up of Mr. King's discards, with a coffee table for a head, chairs for a spine, and umbrella tail). While Mr. King's abashed moment of enlightenment is rushed, it's still a lighthearted take on the "reuse" component of reduce, reuse, and recycle. Ages 3-7. (Aug.)

PreS-Gr 2--Mr. King's home is filled with new things. Indeed, when they become "the tiniest bit old," the feline throws them in the pond, where they disappear from sight. Out of sight, out of mind. But one day while he is fishing, a monster emerges from the pond, bringing with it all of Mr. King's old possessions. Frightened, the wastrel runs away and hides while his friends come and pick from his discarded belongings, happily finding ways to reuse them. In the end, with the monster gone, Mr. King emulates his pals and comes to the realization that he also "likes to turn old things into new." Cote's bright and colorful mixed-media illustrations are charming and humorous, and the simple text will appeal to young readers. With a clear message to reuse and recycle, this picture book will supplement recycling collections.--Nancy Jo Lambert, Ruth Borchardt Elementary, Plano, TX