King of the Castle

From award-winning author Heather Smith, a sweet and relatable story about the relationship between two brothers … and their bunk bed.

Every night at bedtime, a little boy’s older brother climbs into the top bunk of their bed and taunts, “I’m the king of the castle, and you’re the dirty rascal.” As annoying as this is for the little brother, his big brother also provides a sense of security. Sometimes in the dark, the little brother will startle awake. “You there?” he will whisper. “I’m here, Rascal. Now go to sleep,” his brother will whisper back. As time passes, his brother starts going out more with his friends. And then leaves for camp. And, suddenly, the boy is left to ponder how it feels to be without his brother in the bunk bed, and in his life.

This touching story by multi-award-winning author Heather Smith movingly conveys the complicated feelings a child has for their older sibling. The bunk bed offers a perfect metaphor for the sibling relationship, one looking up and one looking down, the older one irritating the younger one with his big brother status while also making him feel safe. Illustrations by Andrea Armstrong complement the emotional tone of the story, with the younger boy’s expressive face at the center of many of the scenes. This endearing book will resonate with readers of all types, younger and older siblings, children and adults alike. Offering a unique look at how siblings’ relationships change as they get older, the book can also prompt discussions with young children about their relationships with family members. It’s an excellent representation of growth mindset and works for character-education lessons on adaptability and courage.