King for a Day

by Rukhsana Khan, Christiane Krömer (Illustrator)

Overview

Malik, a Pakistani boy who uses a wheelchair, is excited to compete in the annual kite-flying festival of Basant. Can his kite defeat the bully's and make him "King" of the festival?

Basant is here, with feasts and parties to celebrate the arrival of spring. But what Malik is looking forward to most is doing battle from his rooftop with Falcon, the special kite he has built for speed. Today is Malik's chance to be the best kite fighter, the king of Basant.

In two fierce battles, Malik takes down the kites flown by the bully next door. Then Malik moves on, guiding Falcon into leaps, swirls, and dives, slashing strings and plucking kites from the sky. By the end of the day, Malik has a big pile of captured kites. He is the king! But then the bully reappears, trying to take a kite from a girl in the alley below. With a sudden act of kingly generosity, Malik finds the perfect way to help the girl.

This lively, contemporary story introduces readers to a centuries-old festival and the traditional sport of kite fighting, and to a spirited, determined young boy who masters the sport while finding his own way to face and overcome life's challenges.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781620141786
Publisher:	Lee & Low Books
Publication date:	04/01/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
Lexile:	AD600L (what's this?)
File size:	51 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	6 - 10 Years

About the Author

Rukhsana Khan is the author of several award-winning books published in the United States and Canada. Born in Lahore, Pakistan, she and her family immigrated to Canada when she was three. Khan's stories enable children of all backgrounds to connect with cultures of Eastern origins. The idea for King for a Day came to Khan one day when she was watching people practicing their kite lifts and dives. Khan lives with her husband and family in Toronto, Canada. Visit her online at rukhsanakhan.com and follow her on Twitter at @rukhsanabooks.

Christiane Krömer specializes in illustrating books for children that feature different cultures and ethnicities from around the world. She drew inspiration for the illustrations for King for a Day from numerous sources, including Mughal miniature paintings and the vivid colors, patterns, and folk art designs of Pakistan. A native of the former East Germany, Krömer now resides in Brooklyn, New York. Visit her online at christianekromer.com.

Rukhsana Khan is the author of several award-winning books published in the United States and Canada. Born in Lahore, Pakistan, she and her family immigrated to Canada when she was three. Khan’s stories enable children of all backgrounds to connect with cultures of Eastern origins. The idea for King for a Day came to Khan one day when she was watching people practicing their kite lifts and dives. Khan lives with her husband and family in Toronto, Canada. Visit her online at rukhsanakhan.com and follow her on Twitter at @rukhsanabooks.

Editorial Reviews

* "Krömer's inventive compositions are a visually exciting match for Khan's introduction to an appealing event. . . This story soars." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Spring has arrived in Lahore, Pakistan, and the celebration of Basant ushers it in with an annual kite-flying contest." — School Library Journal, starred review

* "[A] visually engaging book, and Krömer is an illustrator to keep an eye on. A triumphant tale of the king of the skies." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Using a fantastic medley of mixed-media collage that incorporates traditional Pakistani fabric, handmade paper, burlap, silk, and ribbon, Krömer skillfully captures the textures and colors of Basant, the spring kite flying festival in Lahore. . . While this is undeniably grounded in a Lahori tradition, it is also a universal tale of one boy's good-natured, competitive spirit and desire to shine, if only for a day." — Booklist

Best Books - Kirkus Reviews
Best Books for Kids & Teens - Canadian Children's Book Centre
Best Children's Books of the Year - Bank Street College of Education
Best Multicultural Books - Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature
CCBC Choices - Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Freeman Book Award for East and Southeast Asian Children's Literature - National Consortium for Teaching About Asia
Junior Library Guild Selection

From the Publisher

★ 11/01/2013
PreS-Gr 2—Spring has arrived in Lahore, Pakistan, and the celebration of Basant ushers it in with an annual kite-flying contest. Young Malik plans to win the self-proclaimed title of "king of Basant" by capturing and/or setting free more kites than anyone else. He puts all his faith in his small handmade kite, Falcon, and enters the competition. Thus ensues the story of how Malik, who, incidentally, is in a wheelchair, sits on his balcony and, with assistance from his sister and brother, wins the coveted designation and defeats the bully next door. Mixed-media collage illustrations consist of an intriguing combination of cut paper, floss, yarn, cloth, and pencil sketches. Varying perspectives include ground level, balcony level, and kite's-eye views of the action. The breezy conditions are evident in the soaring kites, billowing curtains, and Malik's sister's clothing. An author's note gives a historical view of the spring festival and its traditions in the ancient city.—Maryann H. Owen, Children's Literature Specialist, Mt. Pleasant, WI

School Library Journal

★ 2013-09-15
Set in Pakistan during Basant, "the most exciting day of the year," this story focuses on the strength and resourcefulness of a child in a wheelchair as he navigates the skies at the spring kite festival. Perched on the rooftop and assisted by his brother and sister, Malik launches his small but swift creation, named Falcon, into the stratosphere, where it defeats both of the kites that belong to the bully next door. (Unlikely as that may be, it will undoubtedly please the intended audience.) Falcon sends many others to the ground, where "they'll belong to whoever finds them. But at least they will have tasted freedom." Silk, burlap, brocade, embroidery, ribbons and rice paper mingle with light brown figures outlined in black within exquisite and dynamic mixed-media collages. In one particularly successful scene, layered buildings and billowing laundry form a backdrop, the three siblings dominate the middle ground, and Malik's white robe becomes a sky against which small figures cycle in the foreground. Pointed Moorish arches are a design element on almost every page, often framing the text and lending a cultural reference. Displaying another side of his personality, the "King" concludes his day of warfare with a secret act of kindness. Krömer's inventive compositions are a visually exciting match for Khan's introduction to an appealing event (originally published in Canada in 2001 with art by different illustrators). This story soars. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews