From the Publisher
2022 METROPOLITAN MUSEUM TOP MUSEUM-THEMED PICK FOR THE HOLIDAYS
2021 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST
"A genius of a book that captures the essence of what it means to be a spiritual being and a creative child."— Caroline Myss, bestselling author of Anatomy of the Spirit
"An unforgettable voyage. Superb!"— Henry Hemming, bestselling author of Agents of Influence
“Exquisite…arresting…The Boy and the Boy King invites parents to ask themselves this critical question: how do you support and protect a child’s imagination?” — Jane Curley, curator of Eloise at the Museum and Madeline in New York
"Gentle, insightful and powerful.” —Bear Grylls, host of the TV series, Born Survivor, Bear Grylls and Man vs. Wild
"A wonderful story with loveable characters, subtle archetypes and beautifully illustrated artwork."—Paul Gladstone Reid, composer
"An exquisitely illustrated tale about the Boy King . . . and the majesty of childhood. . . .A wonderful gift." —Francis J. Ricciardone, former U.S. Ambassador to Egypt
"This delightful story reminds parents to safeguard their children’s imaginations—and their own."—AramcoWorld
School Library Journal
07/31/2020
Gr 2–4—Arthur receives a package from England containing two stuffed rabbits, one of whom comes to life to serve as the boy's friend. Arthur and Bun-Bun go everywhere together until the boy is teased. One teacher threatens to take the rabbit away, while another more empathetic one gives Arthur The Book of Magical Friends that portends adventure ahead. When he visits the Temple of Dendur in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, he and Bun-Bun step through a doorway that serves as a portal to ancient Egypt where the pair befriend the boy king, Tutankhamun. Evil advisors to King Tut are foiled and the two boys and the rabbit frolic and play before Tut must return to his kingdom. Tut comes to consider a deeper destiny for himself, finding comfort in Bun-Bun, who stays on when Arthur returns home, ostensibly a more mature and wiser boy. Gorgeous, photorealistic illustrations in sepia depict this dreamy world, full of impressionistic and chiaroscuro scenes that suggest epic adventures but do not deliver them. Divided into three sections, the story is overly long and the plot is incongruous and meandering. Asides in the text and disjointed storytelling cause confusion for readers, while Bun-Bun's philosophical statements, intended to be both meaningful and humorous, simply interfere. References to "cosmic choices," childhood imaginations, and war and peace further muddy the story. VERDICT Grand philosophical statements and a confusing lack of transitions do not elevate this self-important story.—Ramarie Beaver, formerly at Plano P.L., TX
Kirkus Reviews
2020-07-03
A young museum visitor meets and bonds with Tutankhamen.
Hardly has his “Mum-Mum” left to find a water fountain than a mystical light within the Metropolitan Museum’s Temple of Dendur draws Arthur and his sentient plush toy, Bun-Bun, back to ancient Egypt for a play date with the lonely child pharaoh. Having been mocked in school for still carrying a toy, Arthur is ready to leave Bun-Bun behind as a gift at the end of a day full of magical adventures that is capped by the boy king’s vision of a world at peace: “Somehow, I believe it’s my destiny to help the world by living as a boy, and thus a king, for all time.” Arthur returns to New York, where he learns from Mum-Mum (who happens to be an Egyptologist) that because Tut was killed young he “became a boy living as a boy forever, reminding us of the innocence and beauty of childhood.” What children (never mind adults) will make of this is anybody’s guess—particularly since the episode mixes baby talk with language that is bombastic to the point of parody. “How resplendent are our auras,” declaims Bun-Bun, “full of so many inexplicable emotions.” Yup. Illustrations are appropriately portentous, apparently created from heavily processed photos of solemn-looking models and silhouettes, all White (including Tut, though his painted advisers are depicted, ancient Egyptian–style in twisted postures, with dark brown skin).
Murky messages embedded in goo. (Picture book. 7-10)
