King of the Sky
by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Laura Carlin
Interest age: 6 to 9
Reading age: 6+
Published by Walker Books, 2018
About this book
A little boy has come to start his life in a new country (which could be Wales) where nothing is familiar, apart from the racing pigeons kept by his neighbour: an old man called Mr Evans.
One day, Mr Evans hands the boy one of the pigeons and says it’s his: the boy names it Re Del Cielo, King of the Sky.
Mr Evans and the boy enter King of the Sky into a race – it will go by train to Italy, where the boy is from, and fly home. Mr Evans says it has the wings for distance, but is he right? Perhaps the sunlight, the fountains and the smell of vanilla the boy misses so much will make the pigeon want to stay. Yet when the pigeon returns, the boy realises home can be more than one place.
Shortlisted for the Greenaway medal, in 2018, for illustration in a picture book, this touching, quiet tale about a boy who is a long way from home is full of the atmosphere of a dusty, rainy ex-coal-mining town, lit with accents of yellow hope. Davies considers the strangeness of new places, especially their smells, and the simple acts that can make us feel part of a new community.
About the author
More books like this
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The Map of Me
by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Olga Shtonda
3 to 7 years
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The Secret World of Seahorses
by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Lou Baker-Smith
4 to 7 years
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Skrimsli
by Nicola Davies
9 to 14 years
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Green: The Story of Plant Life on Our Planet
by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Emily Sutton
4 to 14 years
Lists of recommended reads
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Children's books set in Wales
Wales lends itself naturally to some brilliant stories, with its incredible, varied scenery: towering mountains and tumbling hills and gasp-worthy coastline. It's also a country of storytelling, full of myths and legend: dragons and witches and tales of King Arthur. If you live in or are from Wales (or just going for your holidays), you may be looking for books set there to share with your child. Here are just a few of our favourites for you to check out.
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Books about refugees and asylum seekers for younger children
Since asylum can be a confusing issue for children (and even adults), here are some books that explore what it really means to flee your home and have to start your life over.