- classic fairy tale about a vain king who was tricked by swindlers
- regarding the “naked” scenes, the illustrations only show his bare top half on 2 pages
- language: stupid x8
Type: picture book
Ages: 4-8
Original Author: Hans Christian Andersen
Retelling Author: Ned Bustard
Illustrations: Matthew Clark
Thinking he was wearing exquisite clothing only viewable by the wise, the emperor eventually parades through town in absolutely nothing. He didn’t want people to think he was dumb and unfit for his job (which the fake weavers said was the case for anyone who looked at their fabric and didn’t see anything), so he, like many, lied about what he saw.
The artwork wasn’t my favorite, but I did think this is one of the better retellings out there! The final page has a small glossary (devious, textiles, transparent, swindler, etc.) and a Bible verse:
The simple believes every word,
But the prudent considers well his steps.
Proverbs 14:15
For those of you concerned with the word “stupid,” you can probably tell it’s said throughout. It was, in fact, the main word in everyone’s thoughts as they lied about seeing the fabric being prepared for the emperor’s new clothes. If you are okay with the word and are seeking a version of this classic story, the book is a good option!