This original, fun picture book delightfully describes, in hilarious detail, a small child's idea of utopia. Every two-page spread offers something new about this fantasy life, including, “If kids ruled the world, every day would be your birthday! Birthday cake would be good for you. Your doctor would say, 'Don't forget to eat your birthday cake so you'll grow up strong and healthy!'” And, “You could go to any kind of school you like ... Circus School. Fairy School. Inventing School. Lots of kids would go to Recess School.” The topics that bestselling, award-winning author Linda Bailey has chosen are pitch-perfect for young children, from bedtime and baths (none!) to pets and tree houses (lots!). And illustrator David Huyck's detailed, brightly hued artwork is full of energy, joy and humor that gets right to the heart of a child's view of the world.

While this is a book that would happily be enjoyed from cover to cover, it's not hard to envision an enthralled child spending long stretches of time daydreaming about one particular scenario. In the classroom, this book would make an excellent springboard for art projects or creative writing assignments that explore children's own unique image of the perfect world. Particularly gratifying is the emphasis throughout on sharing all the good things brought to life in a world of a child's own making. This book is a truly exuberant celebration of childhood, play and imagination. It's sure to become a classic.

Linda Bailey a jonglé longtemps avec l'idée d'écrire, mais ce n'est qu'après avoir eu ses deux filles qu'elle a lancé sa carrière d'auteure. Elle a écrit des albums, des romans et aussi des livres informatifs. Linda a beaucoup voyagé dans sa vie et ses livres aussi! Certains sont publiés en Chine, en Corée, en Australie, en Grèce, en Pologne et dans de nombreux autres pays.

Linda Bailey has written more than twenty books for children in a number of different genres, including the best-selling Stanley-the-dog series, Toads on Toast, and most recently, If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur (Si jamais tu avais un dinosaure...). Linda has garnered a long list of honours in Canada such as the Ontario Blue Spruce Award, the Atlantic Provinces Hackmatack Award and the Arthur Ellis Award. She lives in Vancouver, BC.

Linda Bailey's profile page

David Huyck is an award-winning illustrator, as well as a printmaker, a painter and a sculptor. He is the illustrator of Manners Are Not for Monkeys, That One Spooky Night and Wingmaker, as well as If Kids Ruled the World, which won both the Blue Spruce Award and the Shining Willow Award. He lives with his family in Northfield, Minnesota.

David Huyck's profile page

• Short-listed, Blue Spruce Award, Ontario Library Association
• Winner, 2014 OLA Best Bet List for Children, OLA's Canadian Materials Committee - Canada
• Winner, 2014 OLA Best Bet List for Children, OLA's Canadian Materials Committee

The vibrant illustrations and spirit of imagination will make this a delightful reading experience for young readers. The story is fun, and the illustrations are wonderful.—CM Magazine

This warm piece of speculative fiction is tailor-made for both circle-time reading and spurring class projects. Bailey's (the Stanley series) what-ifs run the gamut.—Publishers Weekly

From the expected to the surreal, Bailey imagines a world where kids make the rules ... The reminder to play at all ages is important ...—Kirkus Reviews

This story would be great for story time readings, as it comes with great pictures to help spur on the imagination.—Resource Links

Thanks to the joyful artwork and a text that unapologetically indulges every kid's wish for things like a personal castle and Recess School, this is a surefire winner.—School Library Journal

If Kids Ruled the World

by carolibrarian