David Almond Press Reviews
'A beautiful, whimsical, heart-lifting picture book by a writer who makes words soar and an artist with an elegant, unconventional style, about defying rules and daring to fly.' - Sunday Times
'Almond, as ever, champions flights of the imagination.' -- Sally Morris' children's books of the year, Daily Mail
'The haunting childlike illustrations by Laura Carlin add to the mysteriousness of it all.' -- Evening Standard
'a sliver of Nanny McPhee and a strong shadow of Roald Dahl’s favouring of the child view over the cynical adult, this is a beguiling treat. Part fable, part celebration of the limitlessness of childhood imagination, Carlin’s ever-shifting illustrations build an ethereal mood' - The Best Children's Books of 2022, The Big Issue
'The story captures the soaring freedom of imagination, alive to all children, too precious to be forgotten. It’s so beautifully told, the words sparkle, and Laura Carlin’s illustrations are magnificent.' - Juno
'The gentle moral of this story is that it is never too late to search for the things that make you happy in life. Every page is filled with colorful, soft-focus sketches that perfectly compliment the text.' - SLC Reviews
'Carlin's mixed-media illustrations employ a childlike style that features simple shapes, indistinct borders, and effective use of color. [...] While the story details may disturb some, Almond's lyrical text and intriguing ideas offer much food for thought.' - Booklist
'With hints of Roald Dahl and P.L. Travers, Almond’s brief, electrifying tale champions defying convention and embracing risk.' - Publishers Weekly
'If you have ever wondered what it might be like to fly, just like the birds all around us, to see the world from you above, to sprinkle a touch of magic into your life then The Woman Who Turned Children Into Birds will be the book that you will fall in love with.' - Armadillo Magazine
About David Almond
David Almond was our Guest Editor in September 2011 CLICK HERE to see his choices.
David Almond is the acclaimed author of many award-winning novels for children such as Skellig, Kit's Wilderness and My Name Is Mina, and has collaborated with artists Polly Dunbar, Dave McKean and Oliver Jeffers on fiction for younger readers. David's books sell all over the world, and in 2011 he was the recipient of the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award. He lives in Hexham, Northumberland.
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Julia Eccleshare on David Almond:
One of the best-loved and finest writers of today, David Almond made an immediate impact with Skellig, his first book. The moving story of a boy’s discovery of a strange creature in the shed which can be interpreted in many ways introduced some to the recurrent themes of David Almond’s writing. Infused with a touch of magic or the supernatural or ‘belief’, David Almond writes sensitively about the inner complexities of growing up. Much influenced by the landscape of Tyneside where he was brought up and still lives, David Almond’s books have a strong sense of place especially in titles such as Heaven’s Eyes, The Fire-Eater and Kit’s Wilderness. Although often clearly set in some particular time, there is a timeless quality to David Almond’s stories which give them enduring appeal.
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