The Queen of France thinks the sapling rose bushes are ugly, but Rose's mother assures the Queen they will one day be magnificent. She named her daughter Rose after this flower, after all.
Alas, the Queen pricks her finger on the bushes, and despite the offer of help from Rose's mother, the Queen insists on finding the royal physician to deal with her finger.
Alas, all she can find it Rose's dad, mowing the lawn. "My finger requires medical attention," says the Queen, but Dad says he has no idea where the royal physician could be. He does, however, ask the Queen to remind Rose, when she next sees her, that they are reading an exciting pirate story tonight.
"I won't forget," says the Queen.
In order to find Rose, all the Queen needs to do is remove all her bling. When she's Rose again, she goes to find her mother and asks after the Queen of France. Mum tells Rose she went in search of the royal physician, and on goes this delightful story about a little girl with a big imagination.
I loved this book for it sent me hurtling back to the days when I would become my own miniature adult (though it usually involved shopping, not queening) - and would speak to my own mum as though I were inhabiting the body of a completely different person. Many a child (and adult) will relate to this very real and very magical memory, epitomised in The Queen of France.
Gorgeous, pastelly illustrations and a super cute ending round out a truly lovely story that could easily become a bedtime fave.
Title: The Queen of France
Author: Tim Washam
Illustrator: Kady MacDonald Denton
Publisher: Walker Books, $15.95 RRP
Publication Date: 1 May 2011
Format: Soft cover
ISBN: 9781406339970
For ages: 3 - 8
Type: Picture Book
