Description

A haunting, original fairy tale from two dazzling debut picture book talents, in the spirit of Neil Gaiman and Carson Ellis.

Hortense is a kind and brave girl, but she is sad–even angry–that her shadow follows her everywhere she goes. She hates her shadow, and thinks her shadow must hate her too. But one cold, dark night, when bandits surprise her in the woods, Hortense discovers that her shadow is the very thing she needs most.

This stunningly illustrated story stirs the soul with its compelling, subtle exploration of self-esteem, self-identity, and finding inner strength.

Praise

Praise for Hortense and the Shadow:
An Amazon Best Book of November 2017
"A handsome debut picture book...beautifully designed." —The New York Times
"A delicate original fairy tale that will likely appeal to young readers of imagination." —Kirkus Reviews
"Children who love eerie stories will be fascinated." —Publishers Weekly
"A uniquely told tale with beautiful illustrations." —School Library Journal
"Inquisitive youngsters seeking a bedtime yarn with equal parts spooky suspense and serious reflection will find it in this wintry wonderland." —Booklist
"Eerie...Wintry, shadowy art in white, black, grays, and pale blues creates the right atmosphere for this darkly suspenseful tale, and the images are tricky enough to keep readers and listeners questioning what they see and what to believe." —The Horn Book
"This story with a touch of the macabre works on many levels and will encourage such things as confidence and self-esteem."
—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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