Brock Cole was a professor of philosophy before becoming an illustrator and author of children’s fiction and picture books. Several of his picture books are derived from classic folk tales, such as The King at the Door (out of print, unfortunately), in which a ragged old beggar at the village inn says that he is really the king, but no one believes him except for a servant.
My pastor used this story as a sermon illustration one time, and it worked quite well. Picture books should be featured in sermons more often, in my opinion. This review says the book is about gullibility versus cynicism. I’m not so sure about that.
Little Baggit, the servant boy at the inn, believes the ragged old man who claims to be king and serves him with respect and with all the material wealth that he can spare. The innkeeper makes fun of Little Baggit and of the poor-looking old king and offers sarcastic comments and a lack of generosity. I think it’s a story that mirrors Matthew 25:32-48.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Little Baggit sees the old man in need and he helps him. Perhaps Little Baggit recognizes the inherent kingliness in the man, or maybe not. But Little Baggit is generous and kind anyway. The innkeeper wouldn’t recognize a king (or a child of God) in any guise because the innkeeper is a stingy sourpuss who enjoys ridiculing Little Baggit’s instinct for kindness and faith.
The King at the Door was Dr. Brock Cole’s first published picture book, and I love it. It’s quirky with a happy and just ending, and it’s one of the recommended books in my Picture Book Preschool book list. I see that Dr. Cole later went on to write and publish at least three Young Adult novels. The YA novels sound awful to me, but that doesn’t tarnish this gem of a picture book.