What is Meghan Markle talking about in her first children's book?
The British royal family is a breeding ground for writers. After Prince Charles and David Linley, the nephew of Elizabeth II, it is the turn of Meghan Markle to take the pen for "The Bench". A children's book in which the Duchess of Sussex discusses the special bond between a father and his son.
Young authors are often recommended to write about what they know. It seems that Meghan Markle took this advice literally for "The Bench", which is inspired by the relationship that her husband, Prince Harry, has with their son Archie.
The narrative for this children's book came to the Duchess of Sussex in 2018, weeks after the couple first became parents. “‘ The Bench 'started out as a poem I wrote for my husband on Father's Day, the month after Archie was born, ”she explains. "This poem has become this story."
The book evokes the special bond that unites fathers and their sons, as perceived by mothers. It features families from all walks of life through illustrations by the multi-award-winning African-American illustrator, Christian Robinson. One of them shows a young boy moved by his reunion with his military father, while another shows a black child taking a nap on his chest. "I hope 'The Bench' will resonate in all families, whatever their composition, as much as it does in mine," said Meghan Markle.
A best-seller in the making
If this inclusive perspective is particularly important for the writer, it is just as important for the children's literature, a sector often singled out for its lack of diversity. In particular, a British study by the Center for Literacy in Primary Education found that only 5% of children's titles published in 2019 featured a main character from an ethnic minority.
“The Bench” will be released on June 8, which doesn't prevent it from already being the # 1 bestseller in the “children's books” category on Amazon. An audio adaptation recorded by Meghan Markle will be released at a later date in the United States and Canada, according to publisher Penguin Random House.
If Meghan Markle took her first steps in children's literature, she had already tasted the joys of writing for "Together: Our Community Cookbook". She wrote the preface to this cookbook, which featured 50 recipes created by the women of the Hub Community Kitchen in London.
