THE KING OF QUIZZICAL ISLAND
by Gordon Snell & illustrated by David McKee
It seems that the only one with an inquiring mind on Quizzical Island is the King. In spite of all the doom-and-gloom predictions of his advisors, he is determined to sail to the edge of the world just to see what he can find. It’s all about curiosity and determination to seek answers to large questions. The tale is told in verse, employing simple rhymes in four-line stanzas, but Snell also delights the reader with some lovely, sophisticated words and phrases. The king sails on his “singular ship” to a “higgledy-piggeldy shore,” and has adventures galore in which he must use ingenuity to solve dilemmas and find his way home, ready to tackle yet another “perilous plan.” In McKee’s clever, intricate pen-and-ink illustrations, only the king is depicted in watercolors—as it should be, for he is indeed unique. Originally published in England in 1978, it now makes its most welcome debut in the United States. Marvelous fun. (Picture book. 5-10)