Charlie the Champion - (Mom's Choice Silver Award Recipient)


Children - Picture Book
45 Pages
Reviewed on 05/24/2023
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

K.R. King has been married for 16 years and has seven children. She and her husband operate a small business that engages children of all ages, from different backgrounds, to teach them that through physical fitness, anyone can improve their physical, mental, and emotional capabilities, no matter their starting point.

King has been able to witness that when you teach a child they can achieve and to believe in themselves, they learn that anything is possible.

King enjoys being of service with in her local community by helping with the basic necessities they need to live and by mentoring them to enjoy and achieve a better live.

Outside of her work, King loves anything outdoors, including hiking, snowboarding, biking and working out. King is a big foodie and loves trying new and different foods (even if some of them scare her). She loves being at everything her children, this is her number one priority.

King is a member of the Authors Guild and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and illustrators, and Allied Independent Author Association.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Savannah Aldridge for Readers' Favorite

Charlie the Champion by K.R. King is a story about hard work and a mindset change written for a young audience. In the African savannah, Charlie the Cheetah watches his father win races and daydreams that he could one day win one too. However, he is not fit and strong like his father, and the other animals bully him by calling him chubby until Charlie thinks of himself as a failure. One day, after the other animals overwhelm Charlie with their taunts, he decides to fight against their meanness and chase his dreams. Charlie begins to train for his goal with regular practice and only allows himself to say kind and positive things about who he is. When the big race arrives, Charlie is tempted to give up when he slips behind the lead, but he keeps fighting and believing to the finish line.

K.R. King’s Charlie the Champion is an excellent way to help children understand the power they have to reach their dreams. I loved seeing Charlie grow from resignation that he would never win a race and would always be what the bullies said he was, to believe that he had value, was worthy of positive self-talk, and was capable of making his dream come true. The illustrations of Charlie and his world are vibrant, clear, and so much fun, with familiar animals and lovely settings that children will adore. Even as an adult, I felt motivated to speak more kindly to myself and work harder for my dreams after meeting Charlie. This is a fantastic educational book for early readers to tackle alone, but an even better one to read and discuss with the grown-ups in their lives.

Emily-Jane Hills Orford

Charlie the Champion by K.R. King reminds us that bullies are everywhere. They’ll find something, anything wrong with you, and use it against you, making you feel small and insignificant and just not good enough. That was the dilemma Charlie the Cheetah faced. He wasn’t like the others who could run fast. He wasn’t even a runner like his dad and the other youngsters called him the chubby cheetah. Finally, after one last straw, one last mean comment from the worst bully, Larry the Lion, Charlie braced himself and stood up for himself. A small voice in his head asked, “Are you going to spend your whole life hiding from bullies?” He answered, “No!” From then on, Charlie was determined to be Charlie the Brave, Charlie the Strong, and Charlie the Champion. He started running every day, training hard to make his dream come true.

K.R. King’s picture book Charlie the Champion is all about believing in yourself, being strong and dedicated, and being proud of who you are. Charlie the Cheetah had to work hard to become a champion, but first, he had to believe that he wasn’t just a chubby cheetah. The story is told in simple language with lots of dialogue to help young readers follow along. The illustrations are spectacular and add another layer of drama to the developing plot. Charlie’s proclamation of faith makes a powerful climax as he challenges himself to be the best he can be. The story is packed with strong messages about self-esteem and working hard toward a goal. Loved it.

Melinda Facal

Charlie the Champion by K.R. King is an empowering children’s book that shares a powerful message about confidence and resilience. Charlie is a cheetah who longs to run extremely fast and win races like his father. Charlie is built differently from his dad and his peers often tease him about his weight. Discouraged, Charlie spends a lot of time indoors until one day when he courageously decides to believe in himself. Charlie dedicates himself to daily practices that strengthen him physically as well as mentally. Charlie prepares to do the best he can to win a race. Readers will be captivated as they follow Charlie's journey filled with hard work and perseverance. Colorful and lively illustrations accompany this heartwarming story.

Charlie the Champion by K.R. King encourages young readers to face challenges bravely and teaches children that goals can be achieved with determination and a positive mindset. Charlie is an endearing character with doubts and insecurities, yet he can overcome these difficulties and put all his efforts into realizing his dreams. Charlie’s enthusiasm as he trains each day and focuses on good thoughts is contagious. Children will enjoy this engaging story filled with relatable situations and playful illustrations. Parents and teachers will find this book to be a valuable resource in helping children understand self-esteem and that they can do great things. Meaningful discussions may also be sparked about constructive ways to deal with bullying behavior. This is a highly recommended read.

Luwi Nyakansaila

Charlie the Champion by K.R. King is a children’s picture book about believing in yourself and achieving your dreams. The story follows a young cheetah named Charlie, who wishes to be as fast as his father. Unfortunately, Charlie's legs are not as strong as his father's, and he is dubbed Chubby Cheetah and teased by the other animals. He spends his days doubting his abilities and playing video games to pass the time. One day, Charlie dreams that he won the first prize in the annual Savannah Sprint, the biggest race of the year. The next day, Charlie goes to school and is hounded by a bully, who keeps calling him Chubby Cheetah, and the other animals join in by laughing at him. Charlie runs to the bathroom to cry. The incident sparks a fire within Charlie, and he decides to listen to a new voice that encourages him not to hide anymore. Charlie stops listening to the bullies, starts training his legs, and begins to call himself Charlie the Champion.

I loved reading Charlie the Champion because it has a powerful message about determination and standing up to bullies. Charlie is a cheetah, the fastest animal in the world, but he loses sight of this and believes he cannot run faster than his bullies. K.R. King creatively teaches the lesson of believing in yourself with this beautiful tale. I loved how King perfectly represented the voice of doubt that everyone struggles with. The battle you must win with yourself is the most difficult obstacle anyone can face before tackling any other challenge. Charlie’s character will be a great inspiration and role model for kids. It also contains colorful illustrations of the characters and the savannah plains. The art is eye-catching and perfectly corresponds with the story. I recommend parents and caregivers read it with their children and teach them to be brave and believe in themselves.

Pikasho Deka

Have you ever had a dream you thought could never come to life? Charlie the Champion, by K.R. King, is the story of one such cheetah. Born in Africa, Charlie the Cheetah has always wanted to be like his father, competing in the biggest races and winning. But everyone teases him as Charlie the Chubby Cheetah. No one is harsher and meaner than Larry the Lion in school, who loves to bully Charlie. So he stays at home and plays video games. However, one day he decides to work on himself and become leaner, stronger, and faster. With his growing self-belief and abilities, Charlie soon joins the annual Savannah Sprint, the year's biggest race. But will he win competing side by side with Larry the Lion?

If you want to achieve your dreams, then self-belief, hard work, resilience, and a strong will are the attributes you need. This is the primary lesson in Charlie the Champion. Author K.R. King tells a wholesome tale of a young cheetah in Africa who must find his inner belief and confidence to unlock the hidden abilities that were always inside him. Charlie is someone young kids will relate to easily. The colorful illustrations make the characters all the more lively and compelling to read. We all have our share of self-doubt sometimes, but never giving up on yourself is essential. A thoroughly entertaining picture book that children and adults will love to read.