Louis I, King of the Sheep

Gr 2–4—In this offbeat French import, a gust of wind lands a blue crown in front of Louis, one of the sheep grazing placidly in an autumnal meadow. After furtively glancing around, he claims the crown, gets up on his hind legs, and becomes "Louis I, King of the Sheep." His monarchy starts off innocuously enough with the acquisition of a scepter, a throne, and a royal bed under a tree. Soon, Louis moves on to other kingly pursuits—giving speeches, riding other sheep in a hunt, living in a palace, and organizing military parades—all allusions that could potentially go over the heads of the intended audience. Things take an even a darker turn when Louis declares that sheep who don't look like him must be driven out. Just then, the wind blows in again and sweeps off Louis's crown…only to bring it to a wolf in the last wordless spread. Tallec's airy illustrations with their dynamically sketched lines and expansive landscapes lend this tale humor and charm without taking away from its heftier themes.