The Most Wonderful Thing in the World
Age 5+
Picture Storybooks Traditional Stories
A funny and heart-warming fairy tale about our values by Vivian French, exquisitely illustrated by Angela Barrett.
From the author of the Tiara Club series comes a gently satirical fairy story for our times, illustrated by one of today's finest artists, Angela Barrett. When a king and a queen promise to marry their daughter Lucia to the man who can show them the most wonderful thing in the world, suitors descend on the palace bearing gifts. Roses, jewels and exotic birds; dancing girls, wind machines and mythical beasts – but nothing feels quite right. As the last suitor leaves, his weapons of mass destruction rejected, the king and queen are exhausted. But when a shy, young man, who isn't a suitor at all, steps forward, they finally understand what the most wonderful thing in the world really is. Vivian French's masterful retelling of a forgotten story is both funny and heart-warming, and Angela Barrett's breathtaking illustrations give life to an enchanting and romantic fairytale city.
Creators
Vivian French is a professional story-teller as well as an acclaimed children’s author who has written over 200 books for children and young adults, including Oliver's Vegetables and the Tiara Club series. A tutor in the Illustration Department at Edinburgh College of Art, Vivian is co-founder of Picture Hooks, a mentoring scheme for young illustrators, and in 2012 she was guest selector for the children's programme at the Edinburgh Book Festival. She is amongst the most popular authors in UK libraries – her books are borrowed over half a million times a year. Vivian lives in Edinburgh.
Angela Barrett studied at the Royal College of Art with Quentin Blake and is one of Britain's most highly acclaimed illustrators. She has won the Smarties Prize and the WH Smith Illustration Award and has illustrated more than twenty-four books for children, including classic tales, fairy tales, biographies, story collections and picture books. She has also illustrated stamps for Royal Mail. Angela lives in London.
Reviews
This book is perfection. The artwork is sublime and it’s obvious that Angela Barrett takes time with her work. Breathtaking and detailed, Barrett’s characters, their clothing, the background buildings and the animals, all come alive on the page. Suitable for ages 6-106.
Buzzwords
