Clementine - though she is usually called Oiya (Oy, you) by her dreadful Aunt and Uncle – has dreams of a magic place she may have once known. Her only friend is the cat Gilbert (called Giblets by Aunt Vermillia and Uncle Rufus) as Clementine has a Cinderella-like existence working all day and then being locked away in the cellar at night. She glimpses the sky through looking up the chimney in her cellar, until one day she looks out of a window in the house and sees the magic place she has imagined… Then follows a great adventure through the Great Black City as Clementine miraculously escapes and tries to find her magic place. Clementine is a very determined little girl, many would have given up in her circumstances, but she knows she can fine her magic place.
The book is a very tactile object, a lovely size for smaller hands as they get involved in this wonderful adventure. Black and white illustrations on virtually every page – Wormell is feted for his wood cuts and lino cuts – with a nod to the style of Gustav Doré, give this an authentic Dickensian feel. The generous illustrations paired with the fast-paced story make this a book children will enjoy reading for pleasure!
'And even though she only saw it in her dreams, she felt sure it was real.'
Clementine works as a slave for her wicked aunt and uncle. But she dreams of a magic place, and she's determined to escape and find it. With the help of a very clever cat, she sets off on an adventure that might just make her dreams come true.
Have you ever dreamed of somewhere better? A life more colourful? More full of joy? Well, it's time to stop dreaming and start reading. It’s time to escape with our sparky heroine Clementine...
'The Magic Place is an extraordinary piece of work. So much time and skill has gone into it. There is such excitement in Wormell's scenes and landscapes, plus a wonderful Dickensian sense of the grotesque in his characters' David Tazzyman
'Brimming with detail and dazzling perspective. One of the last great draughtsmen and hugely inspiring both for those accomplished and aspiring. Walks all over the page like a true pen and ink warrior' Chris Mould
Author
About Chris Wormell
Chris Wormell is one of Britain’s most celebrated author-illustrators and print makers. Known for his instantly recognisable style, Chris is the acclaimed illustrator of the iconic covers for Philip Pullman's La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust – Volume One and the award-winning H is for Hawk, as well as the creator of a host of picture books, including the bestselling George and the Dragon and One Smart Fish. He has won a number of literary awards including the Bologna Ragazza Prize, a Nestle Smarties Award and a Booktrust Early Years Award. His artwork has also featured in advertising campaigns for Jaguar, Marks and Spencer, The Natural History Museum, the Royal Opera House and Adnams beer amongst others.
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