Skip to content
Responsive image
Vendor
Mohrbooks Literary Agency
Sebastian Ritscher
Original language
English
Categories

PATCHWORK PRINCE

Baptiste Paul Kitt Thomas

A joyful, empowering story of a boy made royal by his mother's hand-stitched clothes, inspired by the author's childhood, and with art by a #1 NYT bestselling artist.
What makes a patchwork prince? A prince must be ready for adventure - ready for the night, ready to pluck the brightest, most beautiful fabrics from the scrap heap, ready to run when danger comes. With the treasures he and his mother collect, she will make him clothes fit for royalty: No flashy jewels, no crown, but a cut and drape that hug his Black shoulders just right. And in his new clothes, with chin held high, he will know he is a prince.

Together with Kitt Thomas's beautiful, exuberant artwork, acclaimed author Baptiste Paul brings readers a celebratory story about confidence and self-worth, and the enduring love between a mother and son.


Baptiste Paul (he/him) is a St. Lucian-born children's book author. He is a native Creole/Patois speaker who enjoys sharing stories of his experiences with anyone who will listen. His debut picture book, The Field, was inspired by his childhood in St Lucia, and received starred reviews from Kirkus, The Horn Book, and Booklist.

Kitt Thomas (they/she) is a first-generation St. Lucian American author/illustrator and graduate of the Ringling College of Art and Design. Kitt's mission is to celebrate Black culture with their drawings and to encourage inclusion in all forms of art, as they found it hard to see themself properly represented in the media they enjoyed growing up. Kitt has worked with Netflix, Hasbro, and Cartoon Network. They are the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of Stacey's Extraordinary Words.
Available products
Book

Published 2023-10-17 by Dial Books for Young Readers

Book

Published 2023-10-17 by Dial Books for Young Readers

Comments

Using phrases that outline principles of princehood, Paul marries whimsical imaginings with a portrait of bounty created amid adversity. Thomas brings a reverence for color, imbuing [the pages] with jewel tones reflected in artfully rendered characters and garb. It's a loving portrait of a child embracing their innate value, taught by the queen [their mother] who loves them best.

The illustrations convey every joyful moment, [and] the story has a powerful message of pride, even in things that others might not consider beautiful... The book offers several jumping-off points for shared discussions: recycling, waste, repurposing, imagination, kindness, and, of course, economic inequity, [plus] Paul's glorious author's note... offers so many lessons and so much beauty in very few pages.

Thomas' vibrant illustrations are filled with energy and movement, with swirls of color and yellow stars dancing across the spreads. Paul's text makes wonderful use of specific details; together text and images speak to the resilience of the human spirit... A tender reminder that treasure can come from anywhere.