THE ARGUERS
by Corinna Luyken ; illustrated by Corinna Luyken
The Arguers—staffers who serve a royal family—take pleasure in bickering over even the smallest things until a crisis brings them together.
The first argument begins with a dispute over whether to detangle the king’s copious beard with a brush or a comb. From there, the Arguers find ways to disagree with one another about everything from how to decorate the princess’s throne to which spoon to use to serve noodles to the queen’s hounds. When they can’t quarrel with each other, they squabble with stones and flowers. Proud of their talents, they hold a competition to determine who’s the best arguer in the kingdom. Of course, when the contest begins, everyone’s already too busy arguing to notice. Then a storm strikes, and a bolt of lightning sets the king’s beard ablaze. Faced with a real emergency, everyone works together without a word of dissent. They form a bucket brigade, douse the flames, and trim the king’s scorched beard. Although the Arguers promptly revert back to their old ways, they’ve shown that they can cooperate when it truly counts. Luyken’s storytelling charms with whimsy and dry wit, and her illustrations steal the show with enormous, elaborate hairstyles, bedecked in bows or crowned with oversize hats. The over-the-top Regency styling, paired with a multiracial cast of characters, delights with Bridgerton-esque appeal.
Thoroughly enchanting, without argument.
(Picture book. 4-8)