What do you think?
Rate this book
The Crown
You have the power to pass down... a different kind of crown.
Speaking from the future, a girl wears a crown made from the rubbish passed down to her by previous generations. Her Earth is covered by waste, but beneath the landfill she discovers a book of pictures that show her the past – our world as it is now – and she is filled with joy by the beautiful sky, land, sea and creatures that she sees. Alongside her companion horse, she experiences the beauty of our Earth and imagines a world where her crown is no longer made from rubbish, but from an abundance of life.
This is a lyrical, stunningly illustrated debut that expresses our need to act now to save the environment, while weaving a positive message about protecting the world we live in.
Speaking from the future, a girl wears a crown made from the rubbish passed down to her by previous generations. Her Earth is covered by waste, but beneath the landfill she discovers a book of pictures that show her the past – our world as it is now – and she is filled with joy by the beautiful sky, land, sea and creatures that she sees. Alongside her companion horse, she experiences the beauty of our Earth and imagines a world where her crown is no longer made from rubbish, but from an abundance of life.
This is a lyrical, stunningly illustrated debut that expresses our need to act now to save the environment, while weaving a positive message about protecting the world we live in.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published April 6, 2023
27 people want to read
About the author
Emily Kapff
2 booksEmily Kapff studied illustration at University Falmouth College of Art. Along with illustration she practises writing and poetry as well as sculpture and painting. From a farming background in Cornwall, animals, trees and the general natural world are the route of her inspiration. Living in Devon with her family, she still enjoys the company of a fine array of animals including dogs, goats, chickens, pigs, horses and bees! The Crown is her debut picture book.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 17, 2023
Magnifique album !
Read
July 1, 2023Na kôpke prečítancov mi prekrásne ilustrovaná, i keď predsa svojsky temná, Koruna ležala už nejaký ten mesiac, no z nejakého dôvodu som k jej bezbrehej hĺbke ani za nič nemala čo povedať.
Veď čo by som aj hovorila, keď na mňa zo stránok neustále vykúkala záplava odpadkov a k tomu tie veľké, beznádejou, smútkom či ľútosťou naplnené očká, obrazy, ktoré dostatočne hovorili samy za seba...
O panenskej prírode zhumpľovanej ľahostajným prístupom či nevšímavosťou, o materialistickom dedičstve i "špinavej" mentalite spolu s výchovou odovzdávanej z pokolenia na pokolenie či z človeka na človeka.
Varovali, vystríhali, prosili. Žiadali, aby ich aspoň niekto počúval, aby zasiahol, menil, bojoval. Aby tej neveselej šedej navrátil jej zašlú pestrosť a lesk.
"Nestretli sme sa, ja a ty, môj príbeh sa však spája s tvojím. Ak v tvojom srdci pochopenie nájdem, na inú, živú korunu mám nádej!"
Na slová si Koruna až tak nepotrpí, vďaka melancholickým a miestami magickým obrazom však aj tak má čo povedať. Šmahom jednej ruky deptá, sužuje a dojímavo hrozí, v zápätí však pohladením tíši a dáva nádej, že na zmenu ešte predsa len ostáva nejaký ten čas.
Veď čo by som aj hovorila, keď na mňa zo stránok neustále vykúkala záplava odpadkov a k tomu tie veľké, beznádejou, smútkom či ľútosťou naplnené očká, obrazy, ktoré dostatočne hovorili samy za seba...
O panenskej prírode zhumpľovanej ľahostajným prístupom či nevšímavosťou, o materialistickom dedičstve i "špinavej" mentalite spolu s výchovou odovzdávanej z pokolenia na pokolenie či z človeka na človeka.
Varovali, vystríhali, prosili. Žiadali, aby ich aspoň niekto počúval, aby zasiahol, menil, bojoval. Aby tej neveselej šedej navrátil jej zašlú pestrosť a lesk.
"Nestretli sme sa, ja a ty, môj príbeh sa však spája s tvojím. Ak v tvojom srdci pochopenie nájdem, na inú, živú korunu mám nádej!"
Na slová si Koruna až tak nepotrpí, vďaka melancholickým a miestami magickým obrazom však aj tak má čo povedať. Šmahom jednej ruky deptá, sužuje a dojímavo hrozí, v zápätí však pohladením tíši a dáva nádej, že na zmenu ešte predsa len ostáva nejaký ten čas.
January 3, 2025
I like the message and the illustrations are stunning.
February 28, 2024
'Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.’
- Native American proverb
'We have never met, you and I. I speak from the future which is not yours yet. It is being shaped now. [..] You have the power to pass down... a different kind of crown.'
- 'The Crown' by Emily Kapff
One of the most powerful and effective environmental message books I've ever read. It is about a young girl in the future - who could be any poor child, though I see her as a personification of Mother Nature, as well as a self-proclaimed princess (and queen) - who is on a hill of rubbish and waste, with her horse. This "princess" wears a crown made of rubbish, waste, chemicals and every other kind of mistake made by humanity, brought on by pollution and short-sightedness and late stage capitalism.
What is killing the earth is on this child's head - this is her generation.
Then, on the desolate landfill hill, she finds a book filled with fairy tales, and earth's wonders, such as its animals, wildlife, trees, and oceans. With that spark of hope, with that message about stories and how humans can and must do better, maybe her crown can look different in the future...
'The Crown' - a timely call to action, a wake-up klaxon for responsibility, a demand to do better to save our one and only planet we live on. It could not have come out at a more vital, pressing time. Climate change is real, and we need to do what we can to fix it, to heal the earth, for future generations.
Don't deride - this is our home we are talking about. Don't rob our children of the beautiful, wonderful, safe, healthy and free things in the world. Like breathable air.
I'm not a fan of the dreary, bleak, muddy, sometimes uncanny artwork, but it is suitable for the book, and it is in the service of getting its message across. I'm sure the inclusion of the horse is symbolic of life and the lost beauty of the earth or something, too.
Recommended to all ages.
Final Score: 3.5/5
- Native American proverb
'We have never met, you and I. I speak from the future which is not yours yet. It is being shaped now. [..] You have the power to pass down... a different kind of crown.'
- 'The Crown' by Emily Kapff
One of the most powerful and effective environmental message books I've ever read. It is about a young girl in the future - who could be any poor child, though I see her as a personification of Mother Nature, as well as a self-proclaimed princess (and queen) - who is on a hill of rubbish and waste, with her horse. This "princess" wears a crown made of rubbish, waste, chemicals and every other kind of mistake made by humanity, brought on by pollution and short-sightedness and late stage capitalism.
What is killing the earth is on this child's head - this is her generation.
Then, on the desolate landfill hill, she finds a book filled with fairy tales, and earth's wonders, such as its animals, wildlife, trees, and oceans. With that spark of hope, with that message about stories and how humans can and must do better, maybe her crown can look different in the future...
'The Crown' - a timely call to action, a wake-up klaxon for responsibility, a demand to do better to save our one and only planet we live on. It could not have come out at a more vital, pressing time. Climate change is real, and we need to do what we can to fix it, to heal the earth, for future generations.
Don't deride - this is our home we are talking about. Don't rob our children of the beautiful, wonderful, safe, healthy and free things in the world. Like breathable air.
I'm not a fan of the dreary, bleak, muddy, sometimes uncanny artwork, but it is suitable for the book, and it is in the service of getting its message across. I'm sure the inclusion of the horse is symbolic of life and the lost beauty of the earth or something, too.
Recommended to all ages.
Final Score: 3.5/5
May 1, 2023
This short and beautifully illustrated picture book starts with the native American proverb, 'we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors but borrow it from our children '
A girl with a crown made of rubbish looks into the future, a future that shows wildlife and an unpolluted future world. Now her crown of rubbish turns to a crown of animals.
Although this story is looking at a positive future, I would prefer books about the environment for children (and this one is aimed at very young ones) to focus on positive steps we can take to make change.
On the last page there are some good suggestions, but these are very tiny and written in spirals on the picture, some were difficult to see.
The illustrator is very skilled, I would love to see a book on the theme of helping the environment that focused on helping. This would be so useful, practical and positive advice will help make change.
A girl with a crown made of rubbish looks into the future, a future that shows wildlife and an unpolluted future world. Now her crown of rubbish turns to a crown of animals.
Although this story is looking at a positive future, I would prefer books about the environment for children (and this one is aimed at very young ones) to focus on positive steps we can take to make change.
On the last page there are some good suggestions, but these are very tiny and written in spirals on the picture, some were difficult to see.
The illustrator is very skilled, I would love to see a book on the theme of helping the environment that focused on helping. This would be so useful, practical and positive advice will help make change.
April 13, 2025
Dit boek is prachtig geïllustreerd.. het is een boek met een boodschap: Zorg voor de aarde... Zorg ervoor dat het mooi blijft, dat je de schoonheid ziet en behoudt..
Welke toekomst willen we laten ontstaan.. welke toekomst laat jij ontstaan?
Een meisje spreekt vanuit een (mogelijke) toekomst tot ons, een toekomst die we niet willen met haar kroon vol afval, kleurloos.. grijs en grauw.
Kijk om je heen en zie hoe alles tot leven komt, waardeer het, behoudt het. Zie de schoonheid.. die is overal om ons heen.
Wees je ervan bewust, bescherm het.
Een verhaal met prachtige tekeningen, poëtisch, sprookjesachtig, indringend..
Dit kind.. (en onze (klein)kinderen..) wil dat we een mooie wereld achterlaten voor haar, voor hen..
Iedereen kan daar zijn/haar steentje aan bijdragen.
Op de laatste bladzijde staan een aantal tips om over na te denken en wellicht anders te doen.
Een deel van de opbrengst van dit boek gaat naar natuurherstellende projecten.
Welke toekomst willen we laten ontstaan.. welke toekomst laat jij ontstaan?
Een meisje spreekt vanuit een (mogelijke) toekomst tot ons, een toekomst die we niet willen met haar kroon vol afval, kleurloos.. grijs en grauw.
Kijk om je heen en zie hoe alles tot leven komt, waardeer het, behoudt het. Zie de schoonheid.. die is overal om ons heen.
Wees je ervan bewust, bescherm het.
Een verhaal met prachtige tekeningen, poëtisch, sprookjesachtig, indringend..
Dit kind.. (en onze (klein)kinderen..) wil dat we een mooie wereld achterlaten voor haar, voor hen..
Iedereen kan daar zijn/haar steentje aan bijdragen.
Op de laatste bladzijde staan een aantal tips om over na te denken en wellicht anders te doen.
Een deel van de opbrengst van dit boek gaat naar natuurherstellende projecten.
December 18, 2022
Un point de départ idéal pour expliquer les conséquences à long terme de nos choix de consommation d'aujourd'hui. Images magnifiques, texte percutant. Grâce à ce livre j'ai eu une discussion très importante et bien imagée sur la passation et les générations, sur l'importance des choix, les valeurs à encourager et tellement plus. Un superbe outil pédagogique aux nombreuses applications. Bravo!
J'ai beaucoup aimé la dernière page où figurent plusieurs questions qui sont tout autant de pistes de reflexion et de portes ouvertes sur de potentielles discussions et activités.
J'ai beaucoup aimé la dernière page où figurent plusieurs questions qui sont tout autant de pistes de reflexion et de portes ouvertes sur de potentielles discussions et activités.
October 26, 2023
Jeg tenkte først at denne var laget fra barn til voksne. Så tenkte jeg at den må inn i alle hjem der det er flere generasjoner. Men når jeg så siste side så ser jeg for meg ett skoleprosjekt der elevene skal prøve å lese mellom linjene og komme på hva denne kronen kan inneholde for dem, etter de fine eksemplene på siste side. Også en gave av en bok til oss alle!!
July 29, 2023
I have never had a book bring me to the brink of tears this quickly before.
August 6, 2023
Wonderfully illustrated. A thought-provoking story with a topical resonating message.
March 31, 2025
Wonderful and terrifying at the same time - what will we pass down to the future generation?
May 21, 2023
Niekedy je mi ťažko vyjadriť sa ku knihám. Zvlášt k takýmto, so silným posolstvom.
Aj keď má len pár strán, a pár slov, hovorí neskutočne veľa. Získa si Vás každým jedným detailom.
Nenásilnou formou sa snaží vysvetliť, aké by to mohlo byť. Ako môže dopadnúť naša Zem, že je to všetko v našich rukách a je len na nás, čo tu zanecháme pre naše deti.
Takýchto kníh rozhodne potrebujeme viac. Je to totiž téma, ktorej sa stále veľa ľudí vyhýba. A kedy s ňou začať, ak nie už od útleho detstva, s pomocou takýchto kníh, ktoré si získajú nielen Vás, ale aj Vaše deti?
Koruna rozhodne patrí do každej rodiny.
Aj keď má len pár strán, a pár slov, hovorí neskutočne veľa. Získa si Vás každým jedným detailom.
Nenásilnou formou sa snaží vysvetliť, aké by to mohlo byť. Ako môže dopadnúť naša Zem, že je to všetko v našich rukách a je len na nás, čo tu zanecháme pre naše deti.
Takýchto kníh rozhodne potrebujeme viac. Je to totiž téma, ktorej sa stále veľa ľudí vyhýba. A kedy s ňou začať, ak nie už od útleho detstva, s pomocou takýchto kníh, ktoré si získajú nielen Vás, ale aj Vaše deti?
Koruna rozhodne patrí do každej rodiny.
June 22, 2023
A girl from the future speaks to us as she wears a crown made of rubbish, rubbish that has been passed to her by previous generations. Her earth is covered by waste but under it all she finds a books with pictures of the past, our world now and the sky, she’s, land and creatures she sees fill her with joy.
The girl can imagine an earth where her crown is not made of rubbish but of an abundance of life. A stunningly illustrated and lyrical debut picturebook expressing the importance of acting now to save our world.
The girl can imagine an earth where her crown is not made of rubbish but of an abundance of life. A stunningly illustrated and lyrical debut picturebook expressing the importance of acting now to save our world.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews