The King of Quizzical Island Digs Through The World

Gordon Snell (author)

David McKee (illustrator)

Walker Books, UK: July 2011

ISBN: 9781406312140

Genres: picture book, verse

Issues: curiosity

'The King of Quizzical Island/ Can never be left in doubt./ If a question is asked in his kingdom, / He must find the answer out...' So, when challenged to prove that the world is round, the King starts to dig. And dig. And dig.

This is a wonderfully whimsical take on the childhood idea that if you dig far enough you'll get to the other side of the world, where the people walk upside down. In his journey through the to the other side the King encounters many oddities – the Monarch of Calcium (a skeleton), a giant holding a cork in with his head in order to prevent the underworld flooding, the last remaining dinosaur and a dragon fleeing St George. But does his journey actually prove anything, other than the power of his imagination?

The King of Quizzical Island Digs Through the World is a thoroughly charming picture book that will delight gifted readers with its beautifully crafted verse and sophisticated vocabulary. The Edward Lear type nonsense is great fun and the text has both internal and end-of-line rhyming with a strong rhythm that makes it great to read aloud as it flows easily from the mouth, echoing the king's energetic digging. Children will want to gallop through to see what happens next to this unusual king and his burdensome curiosity.

David McKee's illustrations are fascinating. In today's high-colour world, his images are muted: grey/black tones on a sepia background with very occasional, subdued colours. Only the boundless curiosity of the king is worthy of bright colours, it seems, perhaps symbolic of his endless energy and determination.

Cannot be too highly recommended, especially for gifted families.