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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The Magic Callaloo Synopsis
Brilliantly told and sumptuously illustrated, The Magic Callaloo is based on the fairy-tale "Rapunzel" and inspired by stories of enslaved Africans.
Long ago and far away, a magic callaloo plant grew in a village square. Whoever ate one of its leaves was granted a wish. But a greedy selfish man wanted all the wishes for himself so he stole the callaloo.
With only one leaf left, Mister and Missus, desperate for a child, pluck it to make their dream come true. But the greedy man wants everything and he kidnaps their beloved daughter, who will ultimately make the most remarkable escape.
Trish Cooke says, “The Magic Callaloo pays homage to my ancestors and the roads they walked to freedom.”
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781529504880 |
| Publication date: |
4th April 2024 |
| Author: |
Trish Cooke |
| Illustrator: |
Sophie Bass |
| Publisher: |
Walker Books Ltd |
| Format: |
Hardback |
| Pagination: |
32 pages |
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Trish Cooke Press Reviews
This fairy-tale, set-in Bass’ vibrant, technicolour landscape, is a captivating celebration of family, community, love and Black hair from the author of the beloved picture book So Much. While The Magic Callaloo will still appeal to Cooke’s youngest fans, this text-heavy story will also be read by independent readers aged five and up. Simply gorgeous. - The Bookseller
Master storyteller Trish Cooke is in top form with this vibrant story of community, magic, love and family that's bursting with life and colour. Dapo Adeola
About Trish Cooke
Trish Cooke has worked as a TV presenter, has written stage plays and has had numerous acting roles in the theatre and on screen. She is also the author of several picture books including Full, Full, Full of Love. She lives in Bradford.
As a child
Trish Cooke was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Her parents are from Dominica in the West Indies, so she’s “a Yorkshire lass who can speak Dominican patois”. She comes from a large family, with six sisters, three brothers, eight nephews, six nieces, three great-nieces and one great-nephew, all of whom provide her with the inspiration for her picture books: “there’s always some conversation or other going on somewhere that I can eavesdrop on – language is very important to me. I love music and rhythms and when people talk, it is as if sometimes they are actually singing. I remember Sunday mornings, the smell of saltfish and johnny cakes wafting up the stairs, Mum singing and Dad telling stories that were always ‘true’.”
As an adult
Trish attended Leeds Polytechnic and Ilkley College in 1980, where she gained a degree in performing arts. After moving to London, Trish began to write for television, contributing to the BBC’s children’s programme Playdays, which she presented for nine years. More recently, she has written scripts for the popular Tweenies show. She has written plays and scripts for the theatre, radio and television, including Eastenders. In 2001/2002 she was a BBC Writer in Residence. Trish now lives in Bradford with her partner and their two children.
As an writer
When she was pregnant with her first child, Trish decided to turn her hobby, writing, into a full-time career. “You need to have a sense of humour and imagination to write children’s stories. Adults tend to lose themselves in the seriousness of life, whereas children have a simplistic approach. My five-year-old son reads all my stories and reviews them for me. He’s my best critic.” Trish has won many awards for her children’s books. So Much won the 0–5 category of the Smarties Book Prize, the She/WH Smith’s Under-Fives Book Prize and the Kurt Maschler Award. It was also Highly Commended for the Kate Greenaway Medal and was shortlisted for both the Sheffield Children’s Book Award and the Nottinghamshire Children’s Book Award.
Things you didn't know about Trish Cooke
When she was about four or five, she sprayed what she thought was hairspray on her hair, except it was perfume and her hair dropped out! It took ages for it to grow back.
She has always like performing, and she and her sisters used to do shows for their friends and neighbours.
She first discovered how much fun writing could be when she started writing in her diary. She enjoyed exaggerating the truth!
Her first pet was a green budgie called Joey. Her big brother, Joe, fed it one of her sister Mary’s johnny cakes, and the next day it was found dead at the foot of its perch. Trish cried for days.
She can play the recorder really well.
She loves singing and used to be the singer in two ska bands.
Her book, So Much, is featured in a portrait of former Labour leader, Neil Kinnock, and his wife, which is hanging in the National Portrait Gallery – go and see if you can spot it!
Her favourite meal is rice and peas and curried chicken, with lots of fried plantain. Her favourite pudding is banoffee pie.
Her favourite place to holiday is St Lucia. She loves the white sands, the blue sea, and the peace and tranquillity.
Her favourite place to write is in front of a beautiful landscape – on a verandah in the West Indies, or looking out on hills from her office window in Yorkshire.
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