THE KING IS NAKED!

Gibert makes his US children’s debut with a bit of foolery: one hot day, Lion unzips his furry outside and goes for a stroll—clad only in underwear. Despite his oversized crown, all of the other animals take him for an unknown cat and give chase. Then he can’t find his discarded skin, which so undermines his morale that he meekly agrees to a strange lion’s demand that he eat only “dog biscuits, artichokes, turkey, and grated cheese” from then on—whereupon the other “lion,” who turns out to be one of his former victims, returns the purloined body suit. Illustrated with childlike simplicity in crayon and watercolor, this may tickle young audiences, but it’s as slight as it is light—more an extended underwear joke than a recast “Emperor’s New Clothes.” (Picture book. 6-8)