Another fantastic book in the Sally Gardner’s Magical Children Series,
about children empowered by special gifts. Once again it’s utterly
charming full of feeling and very funny. This is the story of a little
girl who is so tiny she fits into a handbag. Whilst minute sized she
grows to be brave, strong and finds love. Very touching.
Ruby Genie is an orphan. Everyone expects her to have the same fantastic magical powers as her famous parents did, but Ruby can't do any magic at all - or so she thinks. and feels a complete failure. Then she begins to get smaller ...and smaller ...and smaller. With a cast of unforgettable characters such as the self-important magician the Great Alfonso, and Aunt Hat the kindly lady conjuror who is hopeless at doing tricks, this wonderful story is full of adventure and shows how a little girl who is so tiny that she fits into a handbag can still be clever and brave and find people to love and value her. The second book in Sally Gardner's Magical Children series, about children empowered by special gifts, is utterly charming, full of feeling, and very funny. Her own delightful line drawings all the way through make it a very attractive package.
Sally Gardner is a multi-award-winning novelist, whose books have sold over 2 million copies in the UK and been translated into more than 25 languages. Sally earned a First-Class Honours degree from Central St. Martin’s Art School and worked for many years as a theatre designer, working on some notable productions. After her twin daughters and her son were born, she started to illustrate children’s books, and then turned to writing. Sally won both the Costa Children’s Book Prize and the Carnegie Medal for Maggot Moon (2012). Sally is an avid spokesperson for dyslexia. Having been branded ‘unteachable’ by some and sent to various schools, Sally was eventually diagnosed at the age of twelve as being severely dyslexic and is passionately trying to change how dyslexia is perceived by society.
Her historical novel for older readers, I, Coriander, won the Smarties Children's Book Prize in 2005. Two thrillers both set at the time of the French Revolution, The Red Necklace and The Silver Blade, which was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize in 2009, followed. Actor Dominic West (The Wire) has bought the film rights to both titles.
Her YA novel,The Double Shadow, was published in 2011 to critical acclaim. Sally Gardner's stories for middle readers includeLucy Willow and the popular Magical Children series of six titles: The Strongest Girl in the World, The Invisible Boy, The Boy with Magic Numbers, The Smallest Girl in the World, The Boy with the Lightning Feet, and The Boy who could Fly, which are also available as audio books. She has also written and illustrated picture books including The Fairy Catalogue, The Glass Heart, The Book of Princesses and Playtime Rhymes. Sally Gardner continues to be an avid spokesperson for dyslexia, working to change the way it is perceived by society. She is dyslexic and argues that it is not a disability, but a gift.
If you'd love to know more about Sally, click here to download a more detailed biography and Q&A.
To see a video of Sally talking about her book Fairy Shopping - CLICK HERE
Or watch a video of her talking about The Silver Blade:
