"With our fingers and elbows plunged in deep,
we yanked out the brightest treasures.
But soon the truck returned.
A prince must be alert."
Self-proclaimed queen and prince - a young boy and his mother - are off early in the morning on a grand adventure. Holding hands until they get where they are going, they are filled with excitement. When they arrive at their destination, they hide and wait patiently for the dump truck that 'pours a stream of fabric scraps' onto the ground. Out they rush and gather the treasures before the truck returns.
Once back, the driver lights a match to drive them away. Luckily, the two have collected a bagful of fabric scraps to carry away. At home they arrange their treasure and hang it on a clothesline. The boy cleans so his mother can work at using every scrap to create a newly-sewn wonder.
"Each piece tells a story," she said.
Black for beauty.
Gold for royalty.
Blue for dignity.
Green for life.
Red for strength.
And when she finished?
A patchwork prince emerged.
Clothed in royal attire, I smiled."
After a dance with his mother, he is off to show his friends, proud as he can be of his new look ... and humble too for his great good luck.
In an author's note, Baptiste Paul tells of the childhood memory that spawned his story where wealthy factory owners had leftover fabric burned so poor families couldn't steal it - and one kind driver who went away to give them time to grab scraps, before he returned to start the fire.
This is a wonderful story, beautifully illustrated to show great pride in childhood experiences and adventure.
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