The Emperor's Birthday Suit

Abstract

This colorfully pictured emperor never wears the same clothes twice. Though he spends so much time trying to impress people with his clothes, he is never happy. One morning two strangers are passing by the palace when they hear the emperor shouting at his helpers that he has nothing to wear for his birthday. He wants something extra special. These Messrs. Bobbin and Thread proclaim to the interested emperor that their extra special garments for him will come from very fine thread that comes from gold and silver coins. Into each piece of cloth they weave a little magic: Wise people can see the cloth, but fools cannot! The emperor declares a parade to show off his great new royal birthday suit. There is a bit of Sendak in Alley's illustrations. The facial expressions are especially good. A good sample picture would be on 28-29 as Bobbin and Thread hold up the non-existing clothes for the emperor to admire for the first time. The emperor, by the way, is wearing a t-shirt that proclaims I (heart) me. How apt! The small voice here cries out Look, he's not wearing any clothes! In this version, somebody gives the emperor an old coat and old pants, and the crowd cheers. The emperor smiles and then begins to laugh. He admits before the honest little girl We were all fools! Except this wise little girl. He makes her his head helper. As head helper, she decides the punishment for Bobbin and Thread, caught making their getaway with the bags of coins. Make them sew new clothes for all the people in the land! The play on words in the title is nice!