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喜歡大東西的國王
一本充滿想像空間又值得深思的繪本
日本繪本大師 安野光雅 經典作品
即使是大權在握的國王，也無法改變大自然的生命和本質
從前從前，有一位喜歡好大好大東西的國王，什麼東西都喜歡好大好大的。他的一天是這樣開始的：先在比屋頂還要高的大床上醒來，然後在像游泳池那麼大的洗臉臺前洗臉，最後用像庭院那麼大的毛巾把臉擦乾。他用好大好大的刀子和叉子吃蘋果，好大好大的巧克力每天也只吃一小口，不過因為每天吃巧克力，國王蛀牙了！他牙痛的哇哇叫，但牙醫來的時候，他竟然哭得更大聲，因為他不要用那麼小的鉗子拔牙！為了國王，大家一下做大鉗子，一下做大鳥籠、大池塘、大花盆，甚至還捕了一頭鯨魚來，哎喲喂呀，真是個令人傷透腦筋的國王啊！
日本繪本大師安野光雅細膩描繪出各式各樣放大的物品，讓人好像進入奇妙的巨人國度裡生活一樣有趣。故事裡的國王，什麼東西都有辦法做成超大尺寸，但是種在超大花盆裡的鬱金香卻還是原本的尺寸，只能開出一朵可愛的小花。難怪安野光雅在〈後記〉中提到：「人類是沒有辦法建造出生命的。我們必須了解，一朵花、一隻小蟲，都是無可取代的寶貴生命。」他告訴我們，即便是擁有人類最高權力的國王，也無法隨心所欲的改變大自然的生命，是一本充滿想像空間又值得深思的繪本。
日本繪本大師 安野光雅 經典作品
即使是大權在握的國王，也無法改變大自然的生命和本質
從前從前，有一位喜歡好大好大東西的國王，什麼東西都喜歡好大好大的。他的一天是這樣開始的：先在比屋頂還要高的大床上醒來，然後在像游泳池那麼大的洗臉臺前洗臉，最後用像庭院那麼大的毛巾把臉擦乾。他用好大好大的刀子和叉子吃蘋果，好大好大的巧克力每天也只吃一小口，不過因為每天吃巧克力，國王蛀牙了！他牙痛的哇哇叫，但牙醫來的時候，他竟然哭得更大聲，因為他不要用那麼小的鉗子拔牙！為了國王，大家一下做大鉗子，一下做大鳥籠、大池塘、大花盆，甚至還捕了一頭鯨魚來，哎喲喂呀，真是個令人傷透腦筋的國王啊！
日本繪本大師安野光雅細膩描繪出各式各樣放大的物品，讓人好像進入奇妙的巨人國度裡生活一樣有趣。故事裡的國王，什麼東西都有辦法做成超大尺寸，但是種在超大花盆裡的鬱金香卻還是原本的尺寸，只能開出一朵可愛的小花。難怪安野光雅在〈後記〉中提到：「人類是沒有辦法建造出生命的。我們必須了解，一朵花、一隻小蟲，都是無可取代的寶貴生命。」他告訴我們，即便是擁有人類最高權力的國王，也無法隨心所欲的改變大自然的生命，是一本充滿想像空間又值得深思的繪本。
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
36 pages, Hardcover
First published August 25, 1976
1 person is currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Mitsumasa Anno
247 books81 followersHis name is written as 安野光雅 in Japanese.
Mitsumasa Anno (born March 20, 1926) was a Japanese illustrator and writer of children's books, known best for picture books with few or no words. He received the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1984 for his "lasting contribution to children's literature".
Source: Wikipedia.
Mitsumasa Anno (born March 20, 1926) was a Japanese illustrator and writer of children's books, known best for picture books with few or no words. He received the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1984 for his "lasting contribution to children's literature".
Source: Wikipedia.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 24, 2018
My child had several Anno books, but this was a particular favourite. A simple parable in which a King learns that biggest is not always best.
Image: Comic impracticalities of “biggest is best”
It sprang to mind a few weeks ago when I was planning a conference presentation. I was thrilled to immerse myself in cuddled memories of our shared love of it, while also seeking illustrations and analogies to use in my presentation.
As a Children’s Book
"There was once a King who had to have everything bigger and better than everyone else."
Children’s stories are often educational in some broad sense, but they need some or all of the following (this has all):
• Fun (various unintended consequences)
• Distinctive visual style (the king’s crown is more like a giant cushion or gourd)
• Humour, exaggeration, surprise
• Elegant, memorable phrasing, including repetition
• Universal truth disguised in a simple message
• Work on different levels (something for parents/carers, and hence I can use it)
After various problems and unintended consequences of outsized things, the King wants the biggest flower, which will obviously be the best and most beautiful, and require the biggest flowerpot. The outcome is not quite what he expects.
"It was small - but it was very beautiful."
Image: A tiny, but beautiful, tulip. Biggest isn’t always best.
As a Metaphor for Something Else
My presentation is about applying what I learned from a decade of review-writing on GR to technical writing, especially on social media. The key points are about context (the right tools for the job), timing, and targeting one's audience, rather than aiming for maximum likes (because biggest isn’t always best). All are demonstrated in this delightful tale.
I’m sure it could be adapted just as well to a dozen other contexts.
If you want tips on creating and delivering presentations, try:
• Andi Lightheart's Presentation Now
• Tim Stockil's Start With An Earthquake
Image: Comic impracticalities of “biggest is best”
It sprang to mind a few weeks ago when I was planning a conference presentation. I was thrilled to immerse myself in cuddled memories of our shared love of it, while also seeking illustrations and analogies to use in my presentation.
As a Children’s Book
"There was once a King who had to have everything bigger and better than everyone else."
Children’s stories are often educational in some broad sense, but they need some or all of the following (this has all):
• Fun (various unintended consequences)
• Distinctive visual style (the king’s crown is more like a giant cushion or gourd)
• Humour, exaggeration, surprise
• Elegant, memorable phrasing, including repetition
• Universal truth disguised in a simple message
• Work on different levels (something for parents/carers, and hence I can use it)
After various problems and unintended consequences of outsized things, the King wants the biggest flower, which will obviously be the best and most beautiful, and require the biggest flowerpot. The outcome is not quite what he expects.
"It was small - but it was very beautiful."
Image: A tiny, but beautiful, tulip. Biggest isn’t always best.
As a Metaphor for Something Else
My presentation is about applying what I learned from a decade of review-writing on GR to technical writing, especially on social media. The key points are about context (the right tools for the job), timing, and targeting one's audience, rather than aiming for maximum likes (because biggest isn’t always best). All are demonstrated in this delightful tale.
I’m sure it could be adapted just as well to a dozen other contexts.
If you want tips on creating and delivering presentations, try:
• Andi Lightheart's Presentation Now
• Tim Stockil's Start With An Earthquake
Read
September 9, 2025"The biggest and best flower in all the world is bound to take longer to grow than an ordinary flower," he said.
I must have listened to this book as a very little kid because it seems I have dim memories of every page. And I can discern the influence of the story over my life up to this day. I like kings. I like flowers. The King's Flower is one of the places where all that began.
I must have listened to this book as a very little kid because it seems I have dim memories of every page. And I can discern the influence of the story over my life up to this day. I like kings. I like flowers. The King's Flower is one of the places where all that began.
June 24, 2017
But *how* does he make that discovery? Just by seeing a small but beautiful tulip growing in the humongous flower pot in which he had the bulb planted. Would that America's self-styled king, the Donald, could learn his lessons about proportion and modesty so easily....
December 9, 2022
One of the most beautiful picture books I've ever had the pleasure of reading and analysing for university.
It is a very simply story, and that's what makes it so enjoyable. It is not infantilising, nor didactic. Just sweet and effective with very pleasing, interesting and complex illustrations.
The protagonist king thinks bigger is always best. What he demands becomes more and more ridiculous and wasteful as the pages go on. The hyperbole makes for a captivating read.
Then, when trying to grow a flower in a gigantic pot, a small flower grows in the centre. The king is struck by its beauty and realises that bigger is not always best.
For me, it was a reminder to not spend time wanting things all the time, and taking a moment to appreciate the small, beautiful things in the world.
It is a very simply story, and that's what makes it so enjoyable. It is not infantilising, nor didactic. Just sweet and effective with very pleasing, interesting and complex illustrations.
The protagonist king thinks bigger is always best. What he demands becomes more and more ridiculous and wasteful as the pages go on. The hyperbole makes for a captivating read.
Then, when trying to grow a flower in a gigantic pot, a small flower grows in the centre. The king is struck by its beauty and realises that bigger is not always best.
For me, it was a reminder to not spend time wanting things all the time, and taking a moment to appreciate the small, beautiful things in the world.
May 10, 2017
I love anything by Mitsumasa Anno, and some of his books are more for adults than children (or, happily, both). This is a lovely tale for children, born of his imagination....What if there was a coffee cup as big as a tank, and he started magining huge things.
But then some things are perfect as they are - small. The tulip the King grows in a giant flower pot makes him realise that maybe biggest isn't always best.
Anno's illustrations are beautifully realised and the tale well-told - a delight for children from about 3 onwards.
But then some things are perfect as they are - small. The tulip the King grows in a giant flower pot makes him realise that maybe biggest isn't always best.
Anno's illustrations are beautifully realised and the tale well-told - a delight for children from about 3 onwards.
August 2, 2020
This is a sweet story, and is a good lesson that bigger (or newer or faster) is not always better, and that there are some things we can work hard to change and some things that we can not control.
November 1, 2021
5 stars because it is a nostalgic childhood favourite.. but I do really like Anno's whole vibe and detail..
August 10, 2015
Another book by an interviewed illustrator in "Show Me A Story". The story was wonderful, especially if you like "The Emperor's New Clothes". The illustrations are incredibly detailed - a true feast for the eye.
June 26, 2016
A childhood favorite. The story & the illustrations captured my young imagination. I'm glad to have my original copy from my Grandma Walker back again.
April 15, 2019
I like this book because big big big... well that's what the king likes. The King learns some things need to be small.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews