Why A Children's Book About King Charles Is Getting Royally Roasted
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Just one month before his grand coronation ceremony, two brand-new biographies of King Charles III are hitting British bookstores. The first, by royals biographer Robert Jobson, is predictably juicy. As reported by The U.S. Sun, "Our King: Charles III: The Man and the Monarchy Revealed" offers allegations about the infamous feud between the royals and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. (Charles refused to pay Meghan Markle's expenses! Catherine, Princess of Wales, is so icy with Meghan that she couldn't bear to be near her at the queen's funeral walkabout!) It's the sort of book the tabloids dream about, and it's practically guaranteed to fly off shelves.
The other book is much less sensational, yet it's almost as controversial. "King Charles" is the latest in the bestselling children's book series "Little People, Big Dreams." The illustrated biographies explore the lives of historical figures from all walks of life, including Harriet Tubman, Nikola Tesla, Jane Goodall, Freddie Mercury, Malala Yousafzai, Kamala Harris, Ada Lovelace, Ernest Shackleton, and dozens more. "All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream," the reads the description of the series on Amazon. "Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!"
The "Little People" series also includes bios of the late Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth II. But alas, readers aren't convinced that the new king belongs in the same category as activists, astronauts, and inventors.
Readers are throwing major snark at the book
The latest in the bestselling "Little People" series explains that King Charles' commitment to the environment, along with "his mission as king to serve all his people with loyalty, respect, and love," make him an inspiring example for young people. Judging by the early reviews on the U.K. Amazon page, however, readers aren't convinced. The one positive writeup so far cited author Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara's "sensitivity" in explaining Charles' divorce from Princess Diana. The other reviews? A total snarkfest — even on reviews that rated the book five out of five stars. Reviewers pointed out that the king's achievements weren't the result of hard work or overcoming obstacles.
"Thank you! I felt like I had no direction in life until I read this book," one wrote. "Now I know that I can make my dreams come true just like Charles. I just [have] to be born into privilege, then sit and wait for mother to die." Another joked, "Thanks. The kids are crying now because they can't be King. Well, I told them, it's not my fault I'm not a Queen. They will have to settle for being IT specialists like their Dad. Not quite the same but what can you do?" A third blasted the whole system: "Children should not be brought up to believe people are born to rule over them. Abolish the monarchy."
Among the upcoming "Little People" books for 2023 is one of Mozart. Maybe the reviewers will be kinder to him?