Patchwork Prince

by Baptiste Paul, Kitt Thomas (Illustrator)

Overview

A joyful, empowering story of a boy made royal by his mother’s hand-stitched clothes, inspired by the author's childhood in St. Lucia, and with art by a #1 NYT bestselling artist with St. Lucian roots.

What makes a patchwork prince? A prince must be ready for adventure—ready for the night, ready to pluck the brightest, most beautiful fabrics from the scrap heap, ready to run when danger comes. With the treasures he and his mother collect, she will make him clothes fit for royalty: No flashy jewels, no crown, but a cut and drape that hug his Black shoulders just right. And in his new clothes, with chin held high, he will know he is a prince.

Together with Kitt Thomas’s beautiful, exuberant artwork, acclaimed author Baptiste Paul brings readers a celebratory story about confidence and self-worth, and the enduring love between a mother and son.

"Joyful [and] powerful . . . So much beauty.” —SLJ (starred review)
"Artfully rendered . . . A loving portrait of a child embracing their innate value." —PW
"Filled with energy and movement, [the book speaks] to the resilience of the human spirit." —Kirkus

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593463444
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	10/17/2023
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.44(w) x 10.31(h) x 0.33(d)
Lexile:	AD610L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Baptiste Paul (he/him) is a St. Lucian-born children's book author. He is a native Creole/Patois speaker who enjoys sharing stories of his experiences with anyone who will listen. His debut picture book, The Field, was inspired by his childhood in St Lucia, and received starred reviews from Kirkus, The Horn Book, and Booklist.

Kitt Thomas (they/she) is a first-generation St. Lucian American author/illustrator and graduate of the Ringling College of Art and Design. Kitt’s mission is to celebrate Black culture with their drawings and to encourage inclusion in all forms of art, as they found it hard to see themself properly represented in the media they enjoyed growing up. Kitt has worked with Netflix, Hasbro, and Cartoon Network. They are the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of Stacey’s Extraordinary Words.

Editorial Reviews

★ “The illustrations convey every joyful moment, [and] the story has a powerful message of pride, even in things that others might not consider beautiful . . . The book offers several jumping-off points for shared discussions: recycling, waste, repurposing, imagination, kindness, and, of course, economic inequity, [plus] Paul’s glorious author’s note . . . So much beauty in very few pages.” —School Library Journal (starred review)

"Thomas’ vibrant illustrations are filled with energy and movement, with swirls of color and yellow stars dancing across the spreads. Paul’s text makes wonderful use of specific details; together text and images speak to the resilience of the human spirit . . . A tender reminder that treasure can come from anywhere." —Kirkus Reviews

"Using phrases that outline principles of princehood, Paul marries whimsical imaginings with a portrait of bounty created amid adversity. Thomas brings a reverence for color, imbuing [the pages] with jewel tones reflected in artfully rendered characters and garb. It’s a loving portrait of a child embracing their innate value, taught by the queen [their mother] who loves them best." —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher