The Bench

Occasionally, a powerhouse pairing comes together to create something that truly transcends what you would expect to be the sum of their talents. Sometimes, despite the renown of both parties involved in a project, it fails to reach the high bar of expectations that has been set for it. The Bench is neither of these books; it falls somewhere between these two extremes. Despite its failings, it does have redeeming qualities and is sure to be popular with fans of both the Royals and Robinson.

The Bench is written by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, as a sort of love letter to the relationship between fathers and sons. While her husband, Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, is certainly the inspiration for some of the fathers depicted, readers see a wide range of fathers represented. This is a simple, rhyming picture book with one to three lines per page.

If you spend any time on websites where aspiring children’s writers gather, you might know that a common piece of advice is to avoid writing rhyming picture books. Some feel as though they’re passé. Upon hearing that advice, you might balk, thinking, ‘I’ve read plenty of good rhyming picture books!’ What books like The Bench highlight is the fact that the majority of rhyming books that do make it through the publishing process tend to be of a relatively high caliber. In the case of a book like The Bench, we see why rhyming picture books need to be perfect, with every syllable in its place. At the risk of sounding harsh, the writing isn’t bad, per se, but it also isn’t good. Most of the text and rhymes are serviceable, but the book lacks subtlety and style. These issues are only magnified by the book’s sparse text. There is one particular rhyme, “where you’ll never be ‘lone,” which feels particularly forced. It is especially unfortunate that this is the last line of The Bench. The poetry reads rather twee, bordering on the saccharine. It sounds like a poem you might expect to be written by a family member and read aloud at a birthday or anniversary (which, it turns out, is fitting as it appears that this text was based on a poem Meghan wrote her husband for Father’s Day).

The illustrations in The Bench really help to bring the story alive. If you were only to read the poem, you would likely (and rightly) picture the same father and child throughout. The decision to include lots of different fathers to make the poem relatable to a wider audience was a wise one. There are plenty of tender father-and-child moments from a diverse array of fathers, including a father wearing a tutu, a father wearing a turban, and a father who is a wheelchair user. Christian Robinson has become a powerhouse in the children’s literature world in the last few years, and fans of his work will recognize his distinctive style. The illustrations are beautiful, as expected. Interestingly, while he most often works with collage and paint, The Bench is the first book Robinson has done completely in watercolour. Though it generally looks like Robinson’s work, it does lack some of the charm of his usual illustrations. As an example, while the proportions are not intended to be accurate, there is one image of a soldier being reunited with his child where we see a woman (presumably the mother) crying in a window watching them. She appears to be reaching up to wipe away her tears, but her forearm is so long that it is hard not to imagine that if she were to lower her hand, her fingers would brush the floor. This is a minor detail to be sure, but it speaks more broadly to the fact that perhaps Robinson doesn’t yet have the same mastery over this technique that he does his signature illustration style. That being said, the art is still gorgeous and miles ahead of many what most people could hope to produce.

The Bench will likely not stand the test of time as a children’s classic, but it will certainly draw readers. While it is not exceptional, it is a nice story with beautiful art that some may gravitate towards. Ultimately, this is a book for fans of sweet, rhyming picture books, fans of the Royals, and fans of Christian Robinson. Those individuals will likely be pleased with the book that sits before them. Due to its popularity, this is a solid purchase for most libraries. Name recognition alone will drive interest, and The Bench will undoubtedly be one of those books that infrequent users come by to check out because they saw it on tv or online.