By The Cover: King Charles Portrait Red
Different Books | Matching Looks
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Are you interested in color theory/history AND trying new genres? Different books and materials, with similar aesthetics? Then this is the side of the blog for you! While we aren’t actually advocating for judging a book solely by its cover, we are proposing that choosing a theme is a new way to explore different genres and branch out within the collection. Plus it’s fun!
King Charles III recently revealed his new RED portrait and many news outlets have already covered this statement piece by artist Jonathan Yeo. Yeo stated the red used is “designed to help Charles’ military uniform fade into the background. […] minimize the visual distractions and allow people to connect with the human being underneath”. Yeo also included a butterfly in the portrait which not only represents “the king’s transformation to monarch, but also his passion for environmental causes”.
Whether you view this red as contemporary and expressive, or symbolic and historical, we like to think of it as a FIERY conversation starter
The history and psychology of red is a fascinating subject. Hunter Labs states that historically, “The Paleolithic people buried their dead with red powder for protection from evil spirits. Red is also common in ancient art, with cave paintings across continents created by red ochre. Ancient Romans favored cinnabar for decorations, and Renaissance painters used vermilion paint.” Psychologically, hunter labs reports that “Red provokes strong, often opposing emotions, such as love and anger” – and exposure to the color can even cause some physiological responses such as, “increased blood pressure, respiration rate, heart rate and metabolism.”
Whether you love or hate the portrait, you’ve got to admit – this red is a BOLD aesthetic choice! Let’s dive in and find some materials to match this RED HOT LOOK-
Disclaimer: the rankings of these materials are on how well they fit the “By The Cover” category, not on actual content. But let’s face it – they all look good!
Tail of the Dragon
By Connie di Marco
8/10 – King Charles Red. Dragons, lanterns, and light with hints of burgundy make this a pretty close match
Astrologer Julia Bonatti takes a temporary job at her old boss’s law office, where death threats are turning into dead bodies at an alarming rate. Read more
Glory Be
By Danielle Arceneaux
8/10 – The warm tones + geometric shapes and the flying insects (butterfly adjacent??)
It’s a hot and sticky Sunday in Lafayette, Louisiana, and Glory has settled into her usual after-church routine, meeting gamblers at the local coffee shop, where she works as a small-time bookie. Sitting at her corner table, Glory hears that her best friend–a nun beloved by the community–has been found dead in her apartment. When police declare the mysterious death a suicide, Glory is convinced that there must be more to the story. Read more
100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli
By Larochelle and Cho
7/10 – Blue background, but really evokes the warmth and whimsy of the portrait
This wacky counting adventure by Geisel Award-winning author David LaRochelle is a hilarious ode to dragons and math, with pitch-perfect art by Lian Cho. Read more
Antiques Fire Sale
By Barbara Allan
8.5/10 – Fiery and warm (+1 for dog hair – adds texture and dimension)
When a body discovered in the woods of a county state park turns out to be the owner of the mansion supposedly burned in the fire, the question arises- who charred the corpse? In their fourteenth installment, Brandy and Vivian are on the case! Read more
Kindling
By Traci Chee
9/10 – Texture, deep purple and red tones, and swirling shapes really mirror the portrait
From bestselling and award-winning author Traci Chee comes a standalone fantasy set against a war-ravaged world where kindling warfare–the use of elite, magic-wielding teenage soldiers–has been outlawed. In this rich and evocative novel, seven kindlings search for purpose and identity as they prepare for one final battle. Read more
To Shape a Dragon’s Breath
By Moniquill Blackgoose
9/10 – Warm reds AND piercing eyes? It’s a yes from me
“A young, Indigenous woman enters a colonizer-run dragon academy after bonding with a hatchling-and quickly finds herself at odds with the “approved” way of doing things-in the first book of a brilliant new fantasy series. Read more
When Forests Burn: The Story of Wildfires in America
By Albert Marrin
10/10 – FIREY, I don’t make the rules, I just make the connections
Wildfires have been part of the American landscape for thousands of years. Forests need fire–it’s as necessary to their well-being as soil and sunlight. But some fires burn out of control, destroying everything and everyone in their path. Read more
Beowulf
By Santiago Garcia and David Rubin
10/10 – Portrait style image, warm reds and deep undertones, pensive expression
SANTIAGO GARCIA and DAVID RUBIN unite to bring forward the myth of Beowulf, which has endured for a thousand years, inspired an epic poem, become a foundational piece of English literature, and influenced generations of authors. Read more
Faebound
By Saara El-Arifi
100/10 – This may actually be the portrait??
Two elven sisters become imprisoned in the intoxicating world of the fae, where danger and love lie in wait. Faebound is the first book in an enchanting new trilogy from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Final Strife. Read more
First Year Healthy
By Michael DeForge
3/10 – Way too pink ( face + fire = portrait a bit though)
A mysterious, unsettling parable from one of North America’s most popular cartoonists. Read more
The Other Side of Disappearing
By Kate Clayborn
9/10 – Wavy hair and coral warmth always reminds me of King Charles III
From the acclaimed author of Georgie, All Along and Love Lettering, a pitch-perfect, radiantly transporting love story about an unexpected road trip, true crime obsessions, and hard won vulnerability… Read more
Incidents in the Night, Book Two
By David B
8/10 – Deep magenta dude portrait + kind of moody
At the end of first Incidents in the Night, David B. met an uncertain demise in a bizarre cliffhanger. In Book 2, the worlds of Epileptic and Incidents in the Night become entangled as the author’s dead brother, Jean-Christophe, joins the cast to solve the mystery and uncover the occult machinations of the mad editor, Émile Travers. Read more
Naked Neanderthal: a new understanding of the human creature
By Ludovic Slimak
7/10 – The oranges and reds are fiery
A riveting scientific journey exploring the enigma of the Neanderthal and the species’ unique form of intelligence. Read more
Firestarter DVD
11/10 – DEFINITELY giving the same vibes
For more than a decade, parents Andy and Vicky have been on the run, desperate to hide their daughter Charlie from a shadowy federal agency that wants to harness her unprecedented gift for creating fire into a weapon of mass destruction. Andy has taught Charlie how to defuse her power, which is triggered by anger or pain. But as Charlie turns eleven, the fire becomes harder and harder. Read more
The Cycle: Confronting the Pain of Periods and PMDD
By Shalene Gupta
9.5/10 – Love the movement and deep reds in this one
A groundbreaking exploration of a debilitating disorder that’s underdiagnosed and misunderstood. Read more
Monarch Butterflies: Explore the Life Journey of One of the Winged Wonders of the World
By Ann Hobbie
Illustrated by Olga Baumert
2/10 – Not very close (+2 for Butterflies!)
Monarchs are a favorite and familiar North American butterfly, and their incredible annual migration has captured the popular imagination for generations. As populations of monarchs decline dramatically due to habitat loss and climate change, interest in and enthusiasm for protecting these beloved pollinators has skyrocketed. Read more
Madeline and the Old House in Paris
By John Bemelmans Marciano
6/10 – The setting of this cover does make this scene look like it’s on fire a bit… just like the portrait
When Lord Cucuface, head of Madeline’s school, takes a telescope from the attic during a surprise inspection, its ghostly owner convinces Madeline to help get it back, with help from neighbor Pepito and her fellow orphans. Read more
Volcanoes
By Gail Gibbons
8/10 – Reds, oranges, and lots of movement
A nonfiction primer on all thing volcanoes, including the different types of volcanoes, the work of volcanologists, and more. Read more
The Tiny Seed
By Eric Carle
5/10 – For environmental awareness + EXCELLENT texture
A simple description of a flowering plant’s life cycle through the seasons. Read more
Gregor and the Code of Claw
By Suzanne Collins
20/10 – Swirling reds? Flying Creatures? AND contrasting colors – yes please
The stunning conclusion to the riveting Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins, everyone in the Underland has been taking great pains to keep The Prophecy of Time from Gregor. Gregor suspected it says something awful but he never imagined just how awful: It calls for the warrior’s death. Read more
A Spell of Good Things
By Ayobami Adebayo
20/10 – I love the depth of color, texture, and movement
A dazzling story of modern Nigeria and two people caught in the riptides of wealth, power, poverty, and corruption, by the celebrated author of Stay With Me. Read more
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