We are delighted to announce our forthcoming chapter-book title, Petal and the Really Hard Riddle, by Kathryn England, with cover and internal illustrations by David Allan. It will be published on August 12, and is intended for readers 6-9 years old(and for younger kids too, as a read-aloud!).
We’re also delighted to reveal the cover of the book–illustration by David Allan, design by Authors’ Elves. Isn’t it gorgeous!
Here’s a bit about the story:
Petal’s father likes to boast about his daughter. According to him she can do anything. One day, a particularly over-the-top boast about her spinning skill makes its way across the land into the King’s ear and Petal is brought to the palace. The King orders Petal to demonstrate her skill. With no hope of doing what her father says she can do, Petal agrees to a deal offered by a tricky old man who will carry out the task if she can answer a really hard riddle. But surely it can’t be that hard, can it?
A lively, funny take on Rumpeltstiltskin.
About the author:
Kathryn England lives in Penrith in Sydney’s outer west. She has been a secretary, part owner of a milk run, farm hand and sales rep for a book supply company. She has had a number of children’s books published ranging from picture books and easy reads to chapter books, novels and non-fiction. Other stories and articles have appeared in children’s magazines here and overseas. Some of her stories come from her imagination while others are based on fact.
About the illustrator:
David Allan is an illustrator and artist whose first picture book, Two Trickster Tales from Russia(retold by Sophie Masson) was published by Christmas Press in 2013. Since then, he has illustrated three other acclaimed picture books for Christmas Press: Two Tales of Twins from Ancient Greece and Rome(retold by Ursula Dubosarsky, 2014); Two Tengu Tales from Japan(retold by Duncan Ball, 2015) and Two Enchanted Tales from Old China(retold by Gabrielle Wang, 2017). He has also illustrated short story anthologies, including The Stuff of Tales, published by Arts North West in 2018, and several Christmas Press anthologies, as well as storybooks for reading programs. His work is in private and public collections, and he has participated in solo and group exhibitions. www.davidallanart.com
Christmas Press 