A timid king allows his friends to impersonate him until he musters the courage to show his face to the world. The new monarch of Saint Adjak—a fictional land with boats and carriages and a heterogeneous animal populace—is small, and he worries the people will be unimpressed when they see him. Two of his friends offer to engage in public events in his place, wearing his crown and outerwear (illustrated as a cape but described as a coat, in a slightly confusing quirk of text or translation). But neither imposter functions as an ideal stand-in, and the king is convinced to show himself to his subjects, who instantly receive him with praise. This Dutch import taps into fairy-tale tropes—including benevolent royalty and light deception—to illustrate a tidy journey toward self-confidence. The story unfolds in short, rapid sentences, skipping lightly through the beats of self-doubt and acceptance. A palette of reds, browns, and ochers accented with sky blue provides an earthy lushness to the elegantly dressed citizens and their diffident ruler. Those who struggle with self-confidence may feel reassured by the clamor of appreciation the king receives upon facing his fears. More cynical readers may wonder why the most privileged member of a society lies to his citizenry and is greeted with cheers. A reminder to be true to yourself (and everyone else).

– Kirkus Reviews