Patchwork Prince by Baptiste Paul

A joyful, empowering story of a boy made royal by his mother’s hand-stitched clothes, inspired by the author’s childhood in St. Lucia, and with art by a #1 NYT bestselling artist with St. Lucian roots.

What makes a patchwork prince? A prince must be ready for adventure—ready for the night, ready to pluck the brightest, most beautiful fabrics from the scrap heap, ready to run when danger comes. With the treasures he and his mother collect, she will make him clothes fit for royalty: No flashy jewels, no crown, but a cut and drape that hug his Black shoulders just right. And in his new clothes, with chin held high, he will know he is a prince.

Together with Kitt Thomas’s beautiful, exuberant  artwork, acclaimed author Baptiste Paul brings readers a celebratory story about confidence and self-worth, and the enduring love between a mother and son.

Baptiste Paul (he/him) is a St. Lucian-born children’s book author. He is a native Creole/Patois speaker who enjoys sharing stories of his experiences with anyone who will listen. His debut picture book, The Field, was inspired by his childhood in St Lucia, and received starred reviews from Kirkus, The Horn Book, and Booklist.

Author Residence: Green Bay, Wisconsin

Author Hometown: Grace, St. Lucia, the Caribbean

Kitt Thomas (they/she) is a first-generation St. Lucian American author/illustrator and graduate of the Ringling College of Art and Design. Kitt’s mission is to celebrate Black culture with their drawings and to encourage inclusion in all forms of art, as they found it hard to see themself properly represented in the media they enjoyed growing up. Kitt has worked with Netflix, Hasbro, and Cartoon Network. They are the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of Stacey’s Extraordinary Words.

Illustrator Residence: Cincinnati, Ohio

Illustrator Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio