The Prince Has a Boo-Boo!

by R.W. Alley (Illustrator)

Oh, the Prince has a he bumped his head and needs a band-aid. Who will get it? The nanny starts the cry, and soon the cook, the King, the Queen, the general all swing into action. An entertaining cumulative story with rhythmic word repetition that enhances the reading experience and fun pictures by noted illustrator R.W. Alley.

Genres: Childrens

28 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

About the author

R.W. Alley has illustrated more than one hundred children's books, including the popular Paddington Bear books by Michael Bond.

In 2010, he received a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Award for Pearl and Wagner One Funny Day by Kate McMullan. In 2008, There’s a Wolf at the Door by Zoë B. Alley was selected as a Washington Post Best Book of the Year.

Mr. Alley’s newest books include:
Saturday Is Dadurday by Robin Pulver / illustrated by R.W. Alley / Walker Books, 2013
"Brightened with watercolor, watercolor pencil, and gouache, the expressive ink drawings illustrate the story with attention to telling details and express the characters’ emotions with clarity and finesse. Fine for reading aloud, this sympathetic picture book will leave many children wishing for their own version of Dadurday." -
Booklist

Because Your Mommy Loves You by Andrew Clements / illustrated by R.W. Alley / Clarion Books, 2012
"Clements and Alley reunite to produce a strong companion title to Because Your Daddy Loves You." - Kirkus Reviews

When Dads Don't Grow Up by Marjorie Blain Parker / illustrated by R. W. Alley / Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012
"As this sympathetic and celebratory book makes clear, endearingly childish fathers are good for more than just goofy fun." - New York Times Sunday Book Review

Currently he is writing and illustrating a series of four picture books about the fantastical adventures of four siblings. Soon, illustrative work will begin on two picture books based on the life of Enzo, the canine hero of the adult novel The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.

Mr. Alley lives in Rhode Island. Visit him at rwalley.com.

Reviews

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My four year old daughter really enjoyed this book and requested it again the next day. She told me she likes the cover. I really like how we can play with the word boo boo and turn it into moo moo or moon. Or foo foo and food. The plot itself is cute. This is an ideal early reader. My kid is till chanting the title during dinner!

[Keli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synposis

When the prince falls and bumps his head while playing in the castle, the entire castle gets involved in finding him a bandage. With no more than fifty words, this level one reader is both engaging and approachable for a child in the first stages of independent reading.

Review

Readers are notoriously dull, especially those that are intended for the earliest readers. This simple and relatable storyline could have been from a picture book. The text is large and repetitive. With no more than one sentence per page, there is plenty of room for pictures to support the text. Additionally, all new text is listed across the top in a "word bank" that adults can use in various ways to help kids learn the words. Overall, this is a great book for kids who are ready to begin reading in context.

Critical Reviews

School Library Journal
SLJ was the only resource to review this source, which makes sense as readers have little appeal outside of their instructive qualities. This review calls the book "pedagogically correct" and mentions its usefulness in the face of No Child Left Behind. Not exactly a raving review, but it does appreciate that it is a useful teaching tool.

Other Bibliographic Information

Published in 2005 by Sterling Publishing

28 pages