Books About Kings

The Best Kings Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about kings? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

Series

Illustrated Legends of Scotland's Kings and Queens

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Kings

Sale price

$1697

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2021

King Sejong Invents an Alphabet

By Carol Kim, Cindy Kang (Illustrator)

A king secretly crafts an alphabet to empower his people.

32 pages· 898 words· Est. 7 min read-aloud

4.5 Goodreads · 175 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: In 15th-century Korea, King Sejong faces a daunting challenge: the complex Chinese script limits literacy to the elite. Determined to change this, he secretly devises a new alphabet, risking everything to ensure all Koreans can read and write. As he battles tradition and resistance, will his vision of equality prevail? Discover the inspiring tale of a leader's quest for justice and innovation.

Sale price

$1899

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 1983

The Story of the Three Wise Kings

By Tomie dePaola

Three wise men follow a star to present gifts to a newborn king.

32 pages· 456 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud

4.2 Goodreads · 297 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: In a timeless journey, three wise men from the East are guided by a mysterious star to Bethlehem. Their quest leads them to a newborn king, where they offer precious gifts. What wonders await as they follow the celestial sign? This enchanting retelling of a classic tale invites young readers to explore the magic and mystery of a legendary night.

Picture Book · 2015

The Most Wonderful Thing in the World

By Vivian French, Angela Barrett (Illustrator)

Suitors bring dazzling gifts to win a princess, but none of them is quite right.

32 pages

4.1 Goodreads · 423 ratings

Paperback

Summary: A king and queen promise their daughter Lucia to the man who can show them the most wonderful thing in the world. Suitors arrive with roses, jewels, rare birds and marvellous machines, but nothing feels right. Then a shy young man who isn't a suitor at all steps forward. Vivian French retells a forgotten fairy tale, with illustrations by Angela Barrett.

Sale price

$1899

Picture Book · Ages 5–8 · 1949

Bartholomew and the Oobleck

By Dr. Seuss · Classic Seuss series

A king's wish for new weather creates a sticky disaster.

Caldecott Honor (1950)

48 pages· 2,889 words· Est. 23 min read-aloud

4.0 Goodreads · 7,663 ratings

$19.99Save 5%

Library Binding

Summary: King Derwin, tired of ordinary weather, commands his magicians to conjure something extraordinary. Instead, a sticky green substance called Oobleck rains down, causing chaos. Only Bartholomew, a clever page boy, can help the king find a simple solution to this magical mishap. Can words alone save the kingdom from this gooey predicament?

Sale price

$958

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 1973

The Real Thief

By William Steig

A loyal goose must prove his innocence in a theft scandal or face exile forever.

64 pages· 8,944 words· Est. 1.5 hour read

4.0 Goodreads · 708 ratings

$9.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Gawain, a devoted goose and chief guard of the royal treasury, faces a shocking accusation: theft. With his peaceful life shattered, he must uncover the real thief to clear his name. As suspicion looms, will Gawain find the true culprit, or is he doomed to a life of exile? Dive into a tale of loyalty, mystery, and the quest for justice.

Sale price

$1697

Picture Book · Ages 8–12 · 2019

Where Is the Dragon?

By Leo Timmers

Three knights hunt a dragon in the dark, but nothing is as it seems.

40 pages· 240 words· Est. 2 min read-aloud

4.0 Goodreads · 500 ratings

$17.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Three knights venture into the night, tasked by their king to find a dragon that keeps him awake. Armed with just one candle, they mistake every shadow for the beast they seek. As they confidently head home, they remain oblivious to the clever dragon lurking behind them. Will they ever realize the truth? This whimsical tale, filled with intricate illustrations and playful rhymes, invites young readers to spot the hidden dragon on each page, turning a simple quest into a delightful game of hide-and-seek.

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

Sale price

$1398

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 1880

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

By Sidney Lanier, N. C. Wyeth (Illustrator)

A king's rise, knights' quests, and a legendary search for the Holy Grail.

352 pages· 88,957 words· Est. 10 hour read

3.9 Goodreads · 390 ratings

$14.99Save 7%

Hardcover

Summary: In a world of chivalry and magic, Arthur pulls a sword from stone, becoming king. Joined by valiant knights like Launcelot and Galahad, they embark on epic quests, including the elusive Holy Grail. As loyalty and courage are tested, the fate of a kingdom hangs in the balance. Will they triumph or fall in the final battle? Discover the timeless drama and adventure of King Arthur and his legendary knights.

Sale price

$1597

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 1939

The King's Stilts

By Dr. Seuss · Classic Seuss series

A king's kingdom teeters on chaos when his cherished stilts vanish.

56 pages· 3,470 words· Est. 27 min read-aloud

3.9 Goodreads · 2,330 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: In the Kingdom of Binn, King Birtram's world teeters when his cherished stilts vanish. His kingdom's stability hangs in the balance as he struggles to fulfill his duties without his playful escape. Will he find a way to reclaim his joy and save his realm from chaos? Discover a tale of duty, play, and the quest for balance in this timeless adventure.

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 7–+ · 2016

The Fox and the Ghost King

By Michael Morpurgo

A family of football-loving foxes hears a ghostly voice from underground, and it leads them to a long-lost king.

144 pages· 4,978 words· Est. 56 min read

3.9 Goodreads · 750 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In a cosy den under a garden shed lives a family of foxes who love football. One day they hear a ghostly voice coming from deep underground: a long-lost king who wants to be found. Helping him leads the foxes to one of the biggest archaeological discoveries in living memory.

Sale price

$2560

Chapter Book · Ages 6–12 · 2023

Illustrated Legends of Scotland's Kings and Queens

By Theresa Breslin, Liza Tretyakova (Illustrator)

Ten rulers face secret plots, fierce battles and danger in tales from a nation's past.

144 pages

4.4 Goodreads · 15 ratings

$26.95Save 5%

Hardcover

Summary: Theresa Breslin retells the stories of ten Scottish kings and queens, drawing on history and old legends. Readers rescue the Stone of Destiny with Kenneth MacAlpin, fight at Bannockburn with Robert the Bruce, befriend the young Mary, Queen of Scots, and face a would-be assassin with Queen Victoria. Liza Tretyakova's paintings illustrate every tale.

Ages 3–6Picture Book Club