Fantasy

Fantasy genre

Ostrich and Lark

Ostrich and Lark spend their days on the grasslands of southern Africa surrounded by a chorus of birdsong. From his perch in a tree Lark joins the chorus, while below Ostrich is silent. Then comes the joyful day when Ostrich finds his voice. This picture book about an unlikely friendship is the result of collaboration between the award-winning poet Marilyn Nelson and the San artists of Botswana. The story, which captures the feel of a traditional African folktale, is brought to life with vibrant illustrations inspired by the ancient rock paintings of the San people’s ancestors.

The Day the Rains Fell

At the beginning of time a goddess descends to Earth and finds that parts of the land are dry, the plants are wilting, and the animals are thirsty, for even when it rains on the parched surface, the water just runs off. The goddess is inspired to make enormous pots of clay which she pushes into the earth to collect the rainwater so the animals can drink. While she works, her daughter collects bits of leftover clay and makes a necklace. Once the pots are in place, the animals show their gratitude by adding colors to the dull beads of the necklace—the flamingo gives its bright pink, the zebra its stripes, and the ant the deep red of the earth inside its anthill. Featuring beautiful watercolor illustrations and a page of information about traditional African pots and beads, this book also includes activities for children to do on their own.

The Adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare

Just like young children everywhere, Little Nutbrown Hare likes to explore, play, venture out into the world, and sometimes just savor the comfort of being at home with loved ones. But whatever he does, and wherever he goes, Big Nutbrown Hare is always there to cheer him on. In a beautiful jacketed Guess How Much I Love You storybook, here are four heartwarming new stories that little readers (and their bigger companions) will instantly relate to.

Big Wolf and Little Wolf, Such a Beautiful Orange!

This is the third and last book in the Big Wolf series. Once again Olivier Tallec’s illustrations, which are bold in perspective and full of feeling, deepen the story. Departing from the previous two books, this story takes place in a city, albeit one with a park and a tree on a hill.Big Wolf and Little Wolf have gone on an adventure. Little Wolf sees an orange and goes after it, but he doesn’t return. Big Wolf plunges into the urban jungle in search of Little Wolf. He finds the orange, but not his friend. Fear and loneliness overtake him, but he perseveres. Finally, he comes into a clearing of light, where he finds Little Wolf near where he lost him. Big Wolf has gone full circle and, as these things go, everything has changed. Big Wolf has undertaken an interior journey, gone through the metaphorical forest, and come out fuller and richer and more himself. This is a deep story about true friendship and how it helps to make us who we are.Nadine Brun-Cosme is the author of over twenty juvenile novels and picture books. She lives in France. Her book Big Wolf and Little Wolf is a 2010 Batchelder Honor book.Olivier Tallec was born in Brittany, France, in 1970. After graduating from the Ecole Supérieure d’Art Graphic in Paris, he worked in advertising as a graphic designer, after which he devoted himself to illustration. Since then he has illustrated more than sixty books, seven of which have been published by Enchanted Lion Books.