The King and the Seed — Eric Maddern

Old King Karnak is worried. He doesn't have long to live, and there is no heir to the throne. To find one, the King holds an unusual competition. Knights and lords flock to the palace and the King gives each of them a tiny seed to grow. Watching the competition is Jack, the farmer's son. Jack gets his hands on a seed, plants it, waters it, and waits for it to sprout . . . This lively retelling of a traditional Chinese folk tale, enlivened with droll text and stylish illustrations, carries a down-to-earth message: Courage and honesty, not wealth or a noble pedigree, are a leader's most important qualities.