Meghan Pens New Children’s Book, The Bench

It was announced this morning on Harry and Meghan’s Archewell site that Meghan has penned a new children’s book, The Bench. The book is about the special bond between father and son as seen through a mother’s eyes and was inspired by Harry and Archie’s own special relationship. It is illustrated by award-winning artist Christian Robinson.

According to an official press release, the book will “capture the evolving and expanding relationship between fathers and sons” as well as “remind us of the many ways that love can take shape and be expressed in a modern family.”

Here’s what Meghan had to say about the book —

The Bench started as a poem I wrote for my husband on Father’s Day, the month after Archie was born. That poem became this story. Christian layered in beautiful and ethereal watercolour illustrations that capture the warmth, joy and comfort of the relationship between fathers and sons from all walks of life; this representation was particularly important to me, and Christian and I worked closely to depict this special bond through an inclusive lens. My hope is that The Bench resonates with every family, no matter the make-up, as much as it does with mine.”

Artist Christian Robinson has worked with the Sesame Street Workshop and Pixar Animation Studios. More recently he received a Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor for his art in Last Stop on Market Street.

You can see more of Christian’s work and read all about him on The Art of Fun.

A sneak peek at a page from the book with one of Christian’s illustration below.

More from Mallory Loehr, executive vice-president and publisher at Random House Books for Young Readers Group via The Bookseller —

Meghan’s touching text explores the relationship between fathers and sons and undeniably tugs at the heartstrings that parents and caregivers feel. Christian’s art beautifully matches the tender emotion of Meghan’s words, and every spread is infused with a vibrant sense of joy and love. The Bench is timeless—it feels destined to become one of those books that people will be reading for generations to come.”

Another look at a page from the book —

The Bench will be published by Random House Children’s Books in the U.S. The title will be published simultaneously by Tundra Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada, and Puffin, an imprint of Penguin Random House Children’s UK in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Africa.

More from the Archewell site —

The Bench, which is due to be released on June 8th, will be published by Random House Children’s Books in the U.S. The title will be published simultaneously by Tundra Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada, and Puffin, an imprint of Penguin Random House Children’s UK in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Africa.”

You can pre-order the book via the following sites:

• Amazon books – Kindle e-book, $11.99, Hardcover, $18.99
• Target – hardcover, $18.99 here.
• Barnes and Noble – Nook, $11.99 and Hardcover, $15.99.
• The e-book version ($12) is available for pre-order via Apple Books
• If you are looking for the audio version read by Meghan you can pre-order it via Listening Library.

It is not yet known where the proceeds from the book will go and we will update the post with more information as it becomes available. We’re expecting that the book will likely be hugely popular.

Be sure to check back here for continued updates.

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LINKS:

• Read more about Meghan’s new book from Town & Country.