THE QUEEN OF STYLE

As much an essay on the responsibilities of government as it is a cautionary tale about the hazards of boredom, this tale of a queen who takes a beauty-school correspondence course and uses her unwilling subjects—and their sheep—for practice will give readers food for thought as well as a chuckle or two. Discovering that her coursework requires practicing each lesson 50 times, Sophie repeatedly summons everyone to the castle for clipping, hair styling, manicures, eyebrow-plucking and like indignities. When at last they revolt, she sees the error of her autocratic ways and apologetically bids them come only when they like. Soon she realizes that her subjects have become her friends, and not only does she learn all about their lives but gains international renown for her realm’s stylishly coiffed, dyed and buffed folk and livestock. Clad in peasant dress but sporting elaborate hairstyles (or, for the sheep, poodle cuts and jellybean colors), the figures in the hilariously understated illustrations add a plethora of sight gags to the mix. (Picture book. 6-8)