When I Was King
Written by Linda Ashman, Illustrated by David McPhail
HarperCollins, 2008. 978-0060290511
Reviews
“The boy narrating this expertly rhymed story is reluctant to give up the throne of being an only child. . . Ashman’s verses . . . are perfect for reading aloud. [T]his one’s a keeper.” —School Library Journal
“An older brother bemoans the fact that everything is different with a baby in the house. McPhail’s charming watercolor-and-ink illustrations neatly match both the brother’s mood swings and the innocence of the baby’s mischievousness. Ashman’s use of rhyme and humor extend the age range of the audience in both directions. A good addition to the new-sibling shelf. ” —Kirkus
“Ashman’s poetry is a joy to read aloud. Both older and younger siblings will see themselves here.” —Tasha Saecker, Kids Lit
“[T]he rhymes work well, with the punchy cadence of the verse making this book a solid read-aloud.” —Booklist
Where to Buy
About this Story
Since Jackson is an only child, we never had to deal with the new sibling issue. Nor, as the youngest of four children, did I personally experience it (instead, I felt neglected, rejected and ignored, but that’s another story!). Still, it wasn’t difficult to put myself in the place of the only child forced to accept a tiny, drooling usurper.
I think we all can relate to the sense of frustration, loss and anger that accompanies being “dethroned” and suddenly having to share all that glorious attention–not to mention all your stuff. I had a lot of fun writing about the “stuff” part:
Before you came, this tub was mine.
This soap was mine. This sub was mine.
This train was mine.
This hat was mine.
This boat was mine.
This bat was mine.
This drum. This book.
This bear was mine.
This ball. This brush.
This chair was mine.
This chalk. This truck.
This blanket, too.
The whole wide world was mine–till you.
I love David McPhail’s work, and was thrilled when he agreed to illustrate this book. I love his warm colors, the realistic emotions of the big brother and baby, and his great tenderness and humor (and, of course, as a dog-nut, those gorgeous pooches!). And I’m grateful to Stephanie Bart-Horvath for her book design efforts. I’m particularly pleased with the form and placement of the text (after many books, you really notice when this is done well!).