A fantastic debut picture book by illustrator, Author and comic book creator Emily Haworth-Booth, 'The King Who Banned The Dark', was published last September by Pavilion. This book is powerful in its message and beautiful in its execution with a bold limited palette of yellow and black, it is a warning!
A prince grows up being scared of the dark and when he becomes King he decides to ban the dark, installing an artificial sun, and enforcing "anti-darkness" laws.
Initially, it seems like a good idea. The citizens don't need to worry about monsters, crime, or any of the other scary things that might live in the dark. However, nobody can sleep, and the citizen's revolt.
Does the King face his own fears and turn the lights off?
This is a modern fable with a clear message about politics and power, about the manipulative behavior of those in power and the need to stand up for what is right.
My new favorite. Thanks for posting, Hazel.
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful Wendy X
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