The Red Prince

by Charlie Roscoe, Tom Clohosy Cole (Illustrator)

Overview

A dramatic tale of escape and unity set against a frozen landscape.

When the young prince of Zapada is imprisoned by invaders, he needs all the help he can get to escape. As he flees dressed in his red pajamas, his captors are hot on his heels. But soon he realizes that he is not alone. The whole land of Zapada has joined forces to help him, each person dressing in red to confound and confuse his enemies. This exciting tale of adventure and escape is brought to life by the illustrator of Wall.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763689124
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	10/18/2016
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.90(w) x 11.40(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

Charlie Roscoe was raised in Brighton, England, studied in Scotland, and lives in London. He loves traveling, eating, writing, and reading. The Red Prince is his first book.

Tom Clohosy Cole studied at Kingston University and is the author-illustrator of Space Race and Wall. He lives and works in London.

Editorial Reviews

[Roscoe and Cole's] story of a young prince defying an invading force while dressed in red pajamas certainly strives to tap into the high-stakes drama and chiaroscuro imagery of high fantasy...Roscoe and Cole never let things get too dark or dire for the young prince, but the cinematic imagery and breathless escapes should keep the target audience rapt.
—Publishers Weekly

A fable that attempts a spirit of community and loyalty.
—Kirkus Reviews

Through simple text and dramatic illustrations, this picture book from the illustrator of Wall (2014) tells a story about the power of community...Two-page spreads are interspersed with panels and single-page illustrations, adding a rhythm to the escape and chase.
—Booklist

A visually stunning work about a brave young boy and a people who come together to defend him. Sure to satisfy fans of fairy tales.
—School Library Journal

Viewers who enjoyed poring over the intricate artwork in Jones’ Beauty and the Beast (BCCB 3/14), though, may appreciate this folk-like tale.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Publisher

2016-07-20
When a young prince is captured, the townspeople come to his aid in a surprising way.In the dark of night, strangers armed with guns sail to the land of Avala and seize the city. They grab the boy prince, still in his red pajamas, and imprison him in a tall tower. With the help of a sneaky canine, the prince escapes but must travel far to get back to his city. Like a cardinal in a stark winter scene, his red pajamas stand out against the snow, making him easy to track. When he finally gets home, the strangers are closing in. However, he flings open the city gates, and all his people are dressed head to toe in red. “The prince was invisible in a sea of brilliant color.” The crimson crowd spills over an immense, wordless double-page spread, hiding the prince and bringing him to safety. However, in a strange, final reach for tension that feels as though it were added to meet page count, the prince separates himself from the crowd to chase his dog and is cornered by the strangers once again, necessitating that the townspeople save him a second time. The prince and his royal parents are white, as are most, though not all, of the citizens of Avala. A fable that attempts a spirit of community and loyalty but falls a bit flat in storytelling. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews