Award-winning illustrator Helen Cooper’s debut novel is a richly imagined and cleverly crafted story perfectly matched by her own illustrations. ‘Come now or come never!’ reads the mysterious invitation that arrives with the milk one day. Despite his mother’s protest, Ben knows he must take up the challenge. Working with the diverse inhabitants of the museum, he finds himself caught up in a desperate struggle to save the whole place from the wicked developers. With an underlying plot about the mysterious disappearance of his father this is both a thoughtful and an exciting novel that will fire the imagination of all readers who, like Ben, have ever dared to believe that the animals in a museum might come alive. ~ Julia Eccleshare
When Ben receives a mysterious invitation to an odd museum, he's swept into a peculiar world of forgotten secrets and wild magic in this illustrated novel.
The invitation to the Gee Museum was delivered by bees. It wasn't addressed to anyone, but Ben knows that it was meant for him. Why else would the images on the postcard have stirred up memories of his father, who was lost at sea long ago? Ben makes his way to the old dilapidated building to find a host of curious talking animals awaiting his arrival. They are certain he is the only one who can save the museum. But Ben and the animals in the Gee collection will have to outwit a devious rival museum owner and a greedy land developer. With a bit of luck, some strange magic, and a little help from his mom, Ben might succeed in ensuring the future of the museum - and finding the answers about his father that he's been searching for his whole life. Helen Cooper's first novel brims with mystery and hope, and her lovely illustrations bring the wonders of the Gee Museum to life.
A fantastical and dreamlike adventure - The Sunday Times
glorious first work of full-length fiction - Guardian
truly stunning...a pleasure to read - Books for Keeps
Author
About Helen Cooper
Helen Cooper’s childhood was spent in Cumbria, but she now lives in Oxford with her husband, Ted Dewan and young daughter. As well as being a highly talented artist, Helen is also a keen musician who studied music at college and worked as a music teacher before writing and illustrating full time.
She has illustrated over fourteen books and her work has been translated into fifteen languages. Helen is the first ever author/illustrator to have won the Kate Greenaway Medal with two consecutive books.
