After reading Jeanne Willis and Gwen Millward's The Bog Baby - an adorable picture-book in which two girls discover a magical creature in the bog one day, and try (unsuccessfully) to make it into a pet - I have been eager to get my hands on this second joint venture, which seemed, from cover image and description, to boast the same winsome combination of enchantment and environmental awareness. Finally, impatient at the fact that there doesn't seem to be any plan to release The King of Tiny Things here in the USA, I ordered a copy from the UK. I'm glad I did!

More than just a book on similar lines to The Bog Baby, this is actually a sequel of sorts, narrated by the same young girl, and featuring the same duo of the narrator and her sister, Chrissy. This adventure occurs at Nana and Granddad's, where the girls have gone for holiday, and sees the two spending an enchanted night with the fairy-like "King of Tiny Things," who introduces them to the wonderful world of insects and other small creatures. As with the first book, there are some scary moments when the girls' new friend seems to be failing, but all ends happily...

As mentioned, I'm very glad to have read this second venture from Willis and Millward, and I think it has an engaging premise, and some adorable illustrations. It isn't quite the equal of The Bog Baby, when it comes to both story and visual appeal - perhaps the little king just isn't as charming as the blobby baby? - and I think the scene where it looks as if the king has died might be rather distressing for younger readers (although again, all ends happily), but fans of the original will undoubtedly still want to take a look at this follow-up. For my part, I hope this author/illustrator team does more work together, as I think their combination of fairy-tale appeal and environmental message is both entertaining and enlightening. ( )