Posted by Jane McMorland Hunter on May 6th, 2023

We are all very excited in the children’s department about the forthcoming coronation. Not just because it is an excuse for celebratory teas and cake, flags and bunting but also because of all the brilliant new books. Here is a selection of my favourites.

Little People, Big Dreams: King Charles I’m sure most readers are familiar with the Little People, Big Dreams series but, just in case…. On the shelf they hide behind intriguing black spines, each with the signature of the person they are about. Pull a book out and a rainbow of colours is revealed. From Mary Anning to Freddie Mercury, Charles Dickens to Michelle Obama, they describe the lives of over forty famous people – all of whom achieved incredible things but began life as a child with a dream. Charles always knew he would one day be king and this fascinating book describes how this has influenced and informed him throughout his life.

Michael Morpurgo, The Boy who would be King This delightful book is a companion volume to There Once is a Queen, which Michael Morpurgo wrote to celebrate the late Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee in 2022. It is a fairy story, which might or might not be true. It tells of a young boy who ran away from school and met an old woman in the woods. Far from being a witch, she was one of those people who combined kindness and wisdom. In the story the boy never forgot her. I like to think that the real King Charles met such a woman; I think it is entirely possible.

H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, The Old Man of Lochnagar This enchanting picture book was written many years ago when King Charles was a young prince. It was a story he made up to amuse his younger brothers whilst they were on a long voyage on H M.Y. Britannia. Many years later it was published with illustrations by Sir Hugh Casson. It is the charming story of a very small man with especially hairy knees who lives in a cave by the Loch of Lochnagar in Scotland. He meets an underwater ruler with a bagpipe that blows bubbles, chases Loch-haggis and has many other hilarious adventures. And yes, in case you are wondering, haggis do have uneven legs.

Sheila May Bird, The King’s Hats This is funny, gentle and utterly wonderful. It may be my favourite picture book of the year. King Charles tries on the crown and finds it hot and heavy; will he ever feel comfortable wearing it? Luckily Tom the gardener is on hand to offer some wise advice and, along the way, we learn about all the hats a king might wear, everything from a shower cap to a hard hat on a building site. Keep an eye out for the royal toast rack and Queen Camilla in a particularly fetching pink dressing gown.

Julia Golding, Royal Animals: An Illustrated History From William the Conqueror to Charles III this amazing book describes all the animals with royal connections. Deer and dolphins, swans and spaniels all have close links with the royal family. You will learn why the lions on the Royal Standard look a bit like leopards and which king was given an elephant that walked from the coast of Kent all the way to London. Emily Sutton’s fabulous drawings bring the stories to life.