Mixed reactions to Meghan Markle's first children's book: "Hard to imagine a toddler likes this"

RoyaltySince today ‘The Bench’, the first children’s book by Meghan Markle (39), is in the shops. The British press has reacted very mixed to the debut of Prince Harry’s wife (36), with both positive and very negative reviews. According to the British newspaper Daily Mail, the book is already being offered at half price.

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The Times praises the drawings of illustrator Christian Robinson but states that writing a good children’s book is more difficult than it seems. “The story is more like a self-help guide for parents than entertainment for small children,” says reviewer Alex O’Connell. “It lacks the crucial ingredients for a successful book for this age group: a good story and a basic rhythm. There is so little action that you wonder if the writing was delegated to a piece of furniture.”

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The Telegraph is also not enthusiastic and gives ‘The Bench’ only one out of five stars. “The Duchess’s first children’s book is all boring parenting wisdom and has no story. It is hard to imagine that a child would like this. I wonder how a publisher thought it appropriate to publish something like that.”

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Sentimental

The Evening Standard is much more positive. Emily Phillips praises Meghan for her loving writing style. Though a little too sentimental at times, “it moved her mother’s heart to tears. I look forward to reading what Meghan has in store for Lili Diana,” she concluded.

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The Duchess of Sussex’s first book is about the special relationship between a father and son, seen through the eyes of a mother. ‘The Bench’ is the result of a poem Meghan gave Harry as a Father’s Day gift in 2019, a month after the birth of son Archie. Markle wrote the story, Christian Robinson provided the illustrations. Markle’s debut includes prints of Prince Harry and son Archie feeding the chickens and Meghan with her daughter Lilibet who was born just days ago.

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