Luminous illustrations by Bagram Ibatoulline combine with Brian Alderson's wry retelling for a gorgeous edition of a well-loved tale. A childless woman visits a witch, who gives her a barleycorn - and hidden in its bloom is a tiny girl. For one so small, life is full of misadventures, as Thumbelina floats through the pages like a wisp on the wind, encountering kind and unkind creatures in succession. But old Mrs Toad with her 'rek-kek-kek' and the alarming Man in Grey cannot crush her spirits, and Thumbelina's gentle concern for a winged soul in need paves the way to her freedom and happiness. In a warm, witty retelling accessible to younger children, Hans Christian Andersen's tale of a girl no bigger than a thumb is lavishly illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. Showcasing art evocative of Victorian storybooks - with a touch of the dreamlike Rousseau - this is truly a breathtaking edition of a treasured classic. The book is gorgeously illustrated by the versatile Bagram Ibatoulline. This wry, accessible retelling leaves Anderson's original tone intact. It is a wonderfully collectable book to treasure and share.

 

There are 40 pages in this book. This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+). This book was published 2009 by Walker Books Ltd .

Brian Alderson is a pioneer of children's literature studies and is a prolific writer and translator. His other titles include Thumbelina (CWP, 2009) and Be Merry and Wise: Children's Books in Britain before 1850 (British Library, 2006). Michael Foreman is a Kate Greenaway medal-shortlisted author who has illustrated many best-selling books that are much loved by children, including War Boy and War Game. Bagram Ibatoulline was born in Russia and educated at the Moscow State Academic Art Institute. His first book was Philip Booth's Crossing , named a 2001 Best Book by Publishers Weekly . He is best known for his books with Kate di Camillo, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane , and Great Joy . Bagram lives in Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania.