Description

Once Upon a Wild Wood is a richly imagined story packed full of familiar fairy tale characters as you’ve never seen them before. A fabulously funny adventure, full of warmth, wit and delightful details to discover – this is Chris Riddell at his picture book best!

Little Green Raincape is on her way to Rapunzel’s party, deep in the wild woods. The way is long and dark, but Green is a smart girl. Smart enough to turn down apples offered by kindly old ladies and smart enough to turn down travel advice from helpful wolves . . .

Above all, Green is smart enough to solve a wealth of classic fairy tale problems – not least mend a lovelorn beast’s broken heart.

Including Red Riding Hood, Thumbelina, Rapunzel, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, the Three Bears, the Seven Dwarfs – and many more – Once Upon a Wild Wood is a beautiful book for curious young readers.

For the perfect picture book pairing, check out Chris Riddell’s The Emperor of Absurdia – an enchanting adventure full of Chris’s trademark humour and incredible illustrations.

Publisher Review

Riddell's artwork is as lush and detailed as ever [...] a must for lovers of fairy tales and happy endings! -- 2018-2019 Reading Guide * INIS * A truly delightful book, with illustrations that will set children's imaginations alight. * BookTrust's Great Books Guide 2018 * Former Children's Laureate Chris Riddell weaves a wonderful fantasy adventure around some of the best loved fairy story characters in this hugely attractive and thoroughly entertaining picture story book. -- Julia Eccleshare * Love Reading * There's extraordinary detail in the illustrations and, while children will enjoy spotting the familiar faces, the way in which Riddell subverts the original stories introduces a fresh take on age-old adventures, heroes and villains. * Mail Online * The details are joyous and the text is wryly witty. Supreme draughtsmanship and the chance for children to feel knowing make this book a winner. * Sunday Times * Riddell's drawings lend old-fashioned enchantment to this thoroughly modern tale * Daily Telegraph * Chris Riddell's Once Upon a Wild Wood is an elegant subversion of the fairytale canon [...] Riddell's layered landscapes, full of sly detail, invite exploration. * The Guardian * A smart young heroine, playful storytelling full of wit and detail, and rich, layered pictures in his unique style * The Bookseller, Editor's choice *