Full of charm in both the text and the illustrations The Book of Wonders celebrates the joy of imagination while also extolling the virtues of sharing.
A old box becomes the imaginative playground for a little child. It can be an aeroplane, an iceberg, a tractor or a whale. And, for quiet times like bedtime, it can be a safe place to curl up and read a story. But what happens when other children want to come and play? Can the space be shared?
Initially, the child thinks not. But it can! Playing with others makes all the adventures even more fun. Karl Newson’s poetic text is perfectly matched by Emily Hamilton’s simple illustrations which capture children at play perfectly.
When two families merge and move in together, a little boy finds an escape in his imagination.
On the day two families move into a new home to start their life together under one roof, an overwhelmed little boy takes refuge in a simple cardboard box. But it's not just any box - it's a pirate ship, or a castle, or a rocket shooting into outer space...the only limit is his imagination. Through creativity and play, the boy learns to share with his new siblings as they create fantastical worlds together.
The story deals deftly with the emotional complexities surrounding blended families. Vivid illustrations celebrate the power of a child’s imagination.
Karl Newson is an award-winning children's book author. He grew up in Norwich, Norfolk, and was inspired to write his first story when his children were small. Karl has been shortlisted for the Sainsbury's Children's Book Award, among others, and his stories are published in over 20 languages around the world. He lives in London with his family and a forest of pot plants.
