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A stunning, highly illustrated coming-of-age fantasy picture book for children aged 5-9 from Gothic picture book queen Júlia Sardà about self-discovery, empowerment and learning to grow up confident! Exquisite, detailed imagery makes for a visual adventure like no other, filled to the brim with magic and wonder.
With its powerful and reassuring message about finding your inner strength and self-belief, this is a truly thoughtful and extra special gift book or stocking stuffer this Christmas and holiday season.
The spell-binding sequel to The Queen in the Cave, longlisted for The Carnegie Medal for Illustration,
follows middle sister Carmela on a truly wild and wondrous soul-shaping adventure where she meets a mysterious witch...
MEET CARMELA...
Carmela's older sister, Franca, has stopped playing with her. Feeling left out and left behind by her big sister, Carmella walks until she can't walk anymore and then ... she walks a little further. Somehow, she ends up at a tower she's never noticed before and she knows right away that she's met a witch; a witch who has, in fact ... been waiting for her.
MEET THE WITCH...
The Witch welcomes Carmela into a magical world far beyond the limits of her imagination - a place filled with cauldrons, spells, potions, flying toads and frogs. Carmela visits libraries teeming with ancient books; rooms where worms and spiders weave intricate dresses; a spectacular dome of crystal prisms and, finally, at the very top of the tower - Carmela gets her very own broomstick.
She takes flight - her worries shrinking, her mind expanding and Carmela discovers a power within herself - to see beyond the hurt and pain of growing up, to find her own place in the world.
"The result is singular, not merely a modern classic but one for the ages. Utterly spellbinding." - Kirkus Reviews
"A wild rumpus of sorts and a love letter to the outcasts, 'the lonely, the lost, and the different ones' - and that is a beautiful, empowering thing." - Booklist (starred review)
Praise for The Queen in the Cave:
"supremely exciting [...] An unforgettable story that will leave readers with their eyes wide open." - Booklist (Starred review)
About the author
Júlia Sardà is a Spanish artist and the author-illustrator of
The Queen in the Cave, as well as
the illustrator of
Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein by Linda Bailey,
The Liszts by Kyo Maclear,
The Wolf's Secret by Nicolas Digard and Myriam Dahman,
Moving the Millers' Minnie Moore Mine Mansion by Dave Eggers,
The Hotel Balzaar by Kate DiCamillo and a number of classics, including
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and
The Wizard of Oz. Júlia Sardà lives in Barcelona. Find her on Instagram as @juliasardaportabella.
Report
There is something of the spirit of Maurice Sendak in the rhythm of the story, which is just the right side of hallucinatory. The details are a treat. From the bathroom thick with plants and slime to the panopticon full of books and the crystal prisms scattering rainbows across the potion room, the artwork is sublime. Yes, there are spiders and broomsticks, but this is a book for life, not just Halloween. Lucy Bannerman The Times
