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The Magic Callaloo

"Celebrating Afro-Caribbean heritage in a twist on the tale of Rapunzel"

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£12.99 £11.69

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LoveReading4Kids Says

LoveReading4Kids Says

In prose as rich and vivid as the glorious technicolour illustrations, Trish Cooke has given us an Afro-Caribbean homage to the traditional Rapunzel tale, with its themes of captivity and escape. The author tells us in the introduction, that this fable is also inspired by her ancestors struggle to survive slavery and find freedom and to celebrate the beauty of Black hair.

Older children will be fascinated to find out more about the true story of escape routes woven into the intricate braiding of enslaved girls’ hair. Younger audiences will simply be mesmerised by listening to the lyrical fairy tale read aloud and will warm to the character of Lou, the child born of the last wish from the last leaf of the Magic Callaloo tree. This had been cared for and nurtured by a small village until stolen by a greedy and selfish man who wanted all the wishes for himself. But he neglected the tree and eventually only one leaf remained, and this was boldly seized by a couple desperate for a child.

Eventually the selfish man discovered Lou and kidnapped and enslaved her until her daring escape guided by the braids woven into her glorious hair by a mysterious old woman. A beautiful picturebook with a longer narrative to engage and intrigue older children.

Joy Court

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