Sisters of the Lost Marsh by Lucy Strange

When you begin this book you need to carefully read the Curse:

Be sure the first girl marries well,

The second in the home to dwell.

A third maid can do little harm

If set to work upon the farm.

Four and five must both be wed

Or six will bury you stone dead.

There are six girls in this family. Their mother has died after giving birth to the last three girls - triplets. Father or Dadder is very superstitious. The family live with their beautiful wise grandmother in her home and they work hard to maintain her farm. Their father is more interested in appearances and expects all the girls to obey him and do their chores without question.

Looking at the first line of the curse, Dadda has betrothed Grace to a local much older landowner - Silas Kirby. Just as an aside I seem to have read other books where the bad or evil man was named Silas. Grace has no interest in marrying this man but her father has already taken delivery of a handsome horse and so the deal is now unbreakable.

Then the fayre arrives:

"No one knows when the Full Moon Fayre will come. It might as well be called the Blue Moon Fayre, Grammy says. Sometimes it comes twice a season, and then not for years and years."

I imagine you are beginning to put his puzzle together. And now I can add books are forbidden in this community but Grammy has some and the girls can read and they have listed to all manner of folk and fairy tales including the story of the Marsh King. Maps are also banned.

Back to the curse. The second sister is Freya. She is destined to stay home and look after Dadda but she is secretly in love with the boy who will be her partner at the Springtide Fires. But it is the third sister who drives this story. Willa is the wild child. She is sure her Dadda hates her but she has no idea why. Then Grace disappears after going to the Full Moon Fayre and Willa decides it is up to her to follow the route taken by the fayre so she can find and save her sister. Willa has a map, a compass, the horse that Silas gifted named Flint and her head is full of stories and warnings about the possible dangers of this journey.

The writing is impressively beautiful and sophisticated without sacrificing the reader-friendly clarity of the straightforward narrator. Willa’s innate goodness and iron will carry her through adventures and physical trials, pitting her against superstitions and fairy tales alike. ... So engrossing a tale and world that readers won’t want to come up for air. Kirkus Star review

Strange is a gifted storyteller who masterfully balances good and evil, dreariness and hope. She incorporates a few perfectly timed doses of horror that will entertain middle grade readers without overwhelming them. Book Page

It’s a rare thing, when a book hooks your interest wholly and completely from the very first page, but Sisters of the Lost Marsh really achieved that. I absolutely didn’t want to put it down until I’d devoured every last word. It was atmospheric, slightly spooky at times, with a gentle hint of magic running throughout every page. I adored it with every fibre of my being and didn’t want it to end. That Book Girl

I read Sisters of the Lost Marsh in one sitting. The story just races along and the marsh and the dangerous mire feel so real - the setting of this book feels like another character. 

Lucy Strange has written a beautiful, haunting novel, an eerie and luminous mix of gothic mystery, folklore and fairy tale inspired by the landscape of Romney Marsh. This isolated setting of mist, salt marsh, ditches and lost villages is brilliantly and atmospherically evoked. Books for Keeps

I think this book will greatly appeal to keen readers aged 10+. It might also lead to an interest in finding other books about witch trials and curses such as these:

The 13th Floor

The Beatryce Prophecy

Wilder

The Witch's Boy

Fire Girl

What drew me to this book? I knew the author's name - I have read a few of her previous books (see below) but more importantly I really like the cover. Oh, and Sisters of the Lost Marsh is published by Chicken House and they consistently produce fantastic books. Read an extract of Sisters of the Lost Marsh. 

Once you have read one book by UK author Lucy Strange you are sure to want to find more. 

Our Castle by the Sea

The Secret of Nightingale Wood

The Ghost of Gosswater

Magic Beach by Alison Lester

Magic Beach is now a movie BUT ... begin with the book - then see the movie - you and your young child will really appreciate this experience so much more if you are familiar with the book by Alison Lester.

After reading the iconic book by Alison Lester, nine children and a dog find themselves on the titular Magic Beach. They explore caves, build giant sandcastles, poke around rock pools and converse with sea creatures. This is where their animated imaginations begin… James dives with horses in the waves, sandcastles are built and destroyed in terrible wars, pirates smuggle treasure, and dreamtime serpents fly through the sky and shed their scales. The dreams of these children are limitless and reflect the uninhibited nature of being a child at the beach. The children awake from their animated imaginations to find themselves back in real life, but the beach will be in their heart forever. Movie Insider

One of our local cinemas hosted an event this week to launch the movie of Magic Beach. Sadly the advertising was a little misleading. 

Join Alison Lester, author of the classic children’s book Magic Beach and director Robert Connolly (Paper Planes, The Dry) for a special meet & greet preview screening of the new movie MAGIC BEACH. You’ll have the chance to say hello with your family and hear them introduce the film.

I expected a Q&A session between Alison Lester and the movie director - Robert Connolly. They did talk very briefly but I had so many questions and I left with these unanswered. The event was billed as a 'meet and greet' and I wrongly assumed this meant some sort of chat or interview. Here are my questions:

• Were the movie animators given a choice of which page from this 32 page picture book they would like to explore?
• Did the director have a list of animators or a list of animation styles he wanted to explore for this book? The movie uses many different forms of animation - such as digital, Claymation, and stop motion.
• Were the beach scenes filmed at the real 'Magic Beach' which is in Victoria?
• Apart from the general popularity of the book, which was written over thirty years ago, why did the director or screen writer select this book?
• What were the decisions that had to be made considering this book is not a really a narrative - it is just a set of connected scenes explored with gentle illustrations and a lyrical text.
• What went into the decision making to alter the order of scenes in the book?
• Did the director have to compromise or make changes to his original plans so the movie could be given the all-important G rating?
• Was Bigsy paid for his performance? 

Movie description: Take a trip with the ones you love through a unique mix of live action, entwined with extraordinary animated adventures that bring you to a dreamy seaside world where anything is possible. Featuring timeless characters, MAGIC BEACH is a captivating blend of reality and fantasy that inspires people of all ages to feel the sand beneath their toes and find wonder in the world around them.

In this radio interview Robert Connolly talks about Magic Beach. And also in this ABC television interview.

Alison Lester said: Magic Beach, published in 1990, features 10 children playing by the ocean and their rich imaginary adventures that have them fighting dragons, riding horses through the waves and spying on smugglers. Like all Lester’s children’s books, it leaves plenty of room for readers and listeners to use their own imaginations, which was the same approach she wanted in the movie adaptation. “I think generally we tend to fill our kids’ lives up with stuff so that they don’t have any time to be bored and imagine,” she says. “And it’s such a precious thing to be able to do that, just to take the time to be outside and letting it happen instead of everything just being fed into you.” Sydney Morning Herald

You can view the official trailer here.

Ten animators bring Alison Lester’s beloved children’s book to the screen, crafting a magical mixture of live action and animation that is destined to become a family favourite.

Animators credits

Susan Kim Danta        animator/director: Mermaid's Tale

Pierce Davison            animator/director: Castle V Castle

Jake Duczynski            animator/director: Gilay Gabinya

Emma Kelly                 animator/director: The Horses

Anthony Lucas             animator/director: The Smugglers

Simon Rippingale        animator/director: Henry's Dream

Kathy Sarpi                 animator/director: Tangerine Boat

Susie Shapones            animator/co-director: Princess Belinda

Marieka Walsh            animator/director: Princess Belinda

Eddie White                 animator/director: Kingdom of Fish

Lee Whitmore              animator/director: Doggy Day Dreaming

Animation by Marieka Walsh

Princess Belinda

Anthony Lucas

The Smugglers

Simon Rippingale

Henry's Dream

I discovered the child who plays the part of the pirate who finds a treasure box in a cave is the grandson of Bert and Patti Newton and he is making his movie debut.

It is wonderful that young children can now enjoy this book in three formats - as a book (even as a board book for very young children); as a stage play (by Finegan Kruckemeyer) and now as a movie. I love also really appreciate that the movie allows children to experience so many different forms of animation. And this might be a first movie which is more of an experience or a series of vignettes than an actual continuous story or narrative. 

It was interesting to see the response when the movie director Robert Connolly asked these three questions:

• Who has read the book? Nearly every hand went up.
• If you are an adult who heard the book as a child? 
• If you are a child, put up your hand if this is your first movie experience. Note this is a longer movie than I expected at 76 minutes. I would say it is perfect for children aged 5+.

It was good to view the movie with a huge audience of young children. I think everyone gasped when the real Bigsy appeared on screen - but he is looking so old now. 

Read a review here

Image Source: Storybox Library

You can see a full list of all the books by Alison Lester here.

30th Anniversary edition

Meet the Illustrators The Fan Brothers

Ocean Meets Sky Source: Fan Brothers

I’d also love to see publishers taking more chances on stories that are perhaps challenging or unconventional in some way. As a kid, I was always attracted to the more unusual books, which acted as a springboard for my imagination. I wonder if some of those books would even be considered today. I understand there are always economic considerations and questions of marketability, but I think there’s a real danger of missing out on something incredible by playing it too safe. I’d consider The Barnabus Project to be a pretty unusual book because of its themes and long page length, but we were lucky that our publisher, Tara Walker, believed in us enough to take that leap.  The Art of the Picture Book

I am so excited that The Fan Brothers designed the poster for the 2026 IBBY Congress which will be held in Ottawa because surely that means they will be included in the program and also hopefully this Congress will have a bookshop and all of their fabulous books will be for sale including a couple of titles that have not yet reached us here in Australia or that have been given prohibitive prices in our stores.

Take a look here to see another Moose illustration by The Fan Brothers.

Eric Fan received his formal art training at the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto. His work is a blend of traditional and contemporary techniques, using ink or graphite mixed with digital. He has a passion for vintage bikes, clockwork contraptions, and impossible dreams. 

Terry Fan received his formal art training at Ontario College of Art in Toronto, Canada. His work is a blend of traditional and contemporary techniques, using ink or graphite mixed with digital. He spends his days (and nights) creating magical paintings, portraits and prints.

Devin Fan is an artist, poet and youth worker who has a passion for nature, adventures and kung fu. The Barnabus Project is his first children's book and marks the first time he has worked with his brothers Terry and Eric to write and illustrate a picture book together.

They made their picture book debut with The Night Gardener (2016), which was named an ALA Notable Children's Book.

The earliest seeds of the story can probably be traced back to our childhoods. Our dad has always had a great love of trees, nature, and bonsai, having grown up in the Taiwanese countryside. I think living in Toronto, he missed that and compensated for the cold Canadian winters by turning our house into something of a jungle. There was even a parrot flying free in the house. We ended up basing the character of the Night Gardener on him.

In 2018, the Fan Brothers published Ocean Meets Sky and it was shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal.

Ocean Meets Sky

The Fan Brothers collaborated with their youngest brother, Devin Fan, on his book debut, The Barnabus Project (2020) and this book won the Canadian Governor General's Award for English-language children's illustration. 

The Barnabus Project

When we were first thinking about Barnabus all those years ago, we were fascinated by recent advances in bioengineering and what it might mean for people in the future. We were concerned about the dystopian implications of the technology, and in the decades since I think it’s become even more relevant. With the rise in social media we’re also constantly bombarded with images of “perfection”. It’s a debilitating, harmful concept that’s almost impossible to not be affected by. Advertising plays into the same feedback loop by constantly reinforcing and amplifying those same impossible standards.

Lizzy and the Cloud

Read some interviews:

• Let's Talk Illustrators #162: Devin, Eric, & Terry Fan (aka The Fan Brothers)
• Picture Book Summit podcast 2024 (11 minutes)
• The Reading Realm - Here they talk to Ian Eagleton and Jon Biddle about their work, their passion for music and travel and the transformative power of our imaginations…
• KidLit411 Author-Illustrator Spotlight: Eric Fan and Terry Fan
• Twenty by Jenny
• The Picture Book Buzz 
• Max's Boat - Interview with The Fan Brothers, It fell from the Sky

It Fell from the Sky

• Dad Suggests - An Interview with Eric Fan of The Fan Brothers
• Just Imagine podcast with transcript

Find the Fan Brothers on Instagram; Eric Fan on Facebook; Terry Fan on Facebook; and here is their website where you can see inside all of their books - this is well worth exploring.

You can see their t-shirt designs here. 

This is their newest book:

Meet Barnaby: he's half mouse and half elephant, with just a dash of flamingo . . . and fully trained! When he's brought home to be pampered and cared for by his very own little girl, life is perfect . . . until a new, even more perfect pet comes on the scene. Suddenly Barnaby is no longer the most perfect pet around, and his little girl doesn't seem interested in him anymore. Feeling unappreciated, Barnaby runs away and finds himself swept up on a wild journey through the city and an emotional search for home in a tale of love found, lost and found again.  See inside here. 

Besty Bird talks to The Fan Brothers about Barnaby Unboxed.

Books by other authors with Fan Brothers illustrations:

The Lost History by Melanie La'Brooy

"Penthea's name was given to her by the Regent and the Eslit ... Which makes it the only name she'll ever need ... Your kindness towards your lowly knot sister is to be commended, Princess, 

but I am certain no Lost History exists for Penthea, 

for I can't imagine any writer would be a big enough fool to waste their time 

writing down a single word about a Wintrish servant girl."

But there IS a book about Penn and it does tell the truth about her history but finding this book, reading this book and sharing the contents of this book with the 'right' and trustworthy people is where the real danger lies. Eslit Hortense says Lost Histories are impossible to recover but the Regent dislikes the word impossible.

"Lost Histories are difficult to reclaim but it has been done before. I want The Lost Histories of the Grey Ones found."

This is book two in the Talismans of Fate series. Here is my blog post from 2022 where I talk about Book One - The Wintrish Girl (see the cover below). You do need to read the first installment of this series to make sense of the second book. Also do not skip the prologue in The Lost History - it is vital component of the story. 

Here are some text quotes which will give you a flavour of this story:

"Resentfully, Penn opened her copy of The Official History of the Empire of Arylia by Hildegard of Flurrier. Hildegard was an extremely dull Historian ... unlike more exciting Historians, Hildegard never veered off into grim legends about ancient massacres, where the blood and bones of victims had been used for fertiliser, or lurid stories of outcast settlers who turned to cannibalism. Which was a pity."

"Penn stared down at the Inquisitor, sharing in Arthur's surprise. Lex Talionis was the most beautiful woman Penn had ever seen. She had huge green eyes, high cheekbones, and full red lips, and while she was tall, she wasn't a giant like Hair-Raising Histories had said she was. There was no sign of her terrifying creatures either."

(A couple of things to notice about this quote - full red lips and huge green eyes give a hint she is an evil woman but even worse we do need to be worried about her terrifying creatures. There are three - Drowner, Inferno and Rack).

"Because the new ruler of Arylia has always received the Royal Sceptre and Orb during the Talisman ceremony ... what does the Lore say about the legitimacy of a ruler who has not taken the symbols of royal power out of the Casket of Fate?" "Search the entire Lore ... for guidance on what to do when there is no Loreful heir to the throne of Arylia ..."

About halfway through the second book I wondered if there might just be two books in this series but then, with about ten pages still to read, Melanie La'Brooy introduces some more story complications so it is very clear there will be a third book where you can re-enter the world of Penn and Princess Seraphine along with their friends Juniper and Arthur. There are sure to be further clashes between Marvellance and Malevolence. 

Readers aged 10+ will need some reading stamina to complete this book but it is well worth putting in the reading hours (435 pages). The Lost History is set in a complex fantasy world but there is so much humour in this story which meant I could cope with all the changing scenes, settings, rules and characters. Although thinking about characters I would now appreciate a list (please) especially since I didn't go back and read the first installment so I had to keep my mind quite focused to remember all of them, especially the adult ones, a few of whom absolutely cannot be trusted. This excellent interview with Joy Lawn and Paperbark words will give you some really deep insights into The Lost History. 

There is a delicious political layer to this story - in Candlemage for example - citizens are not allowed to own books. "Ideas and knowledge are dangerous for all minds, but particularly young ones ... that is why we Magi sacrifice our own happiness and spend our lives controlling the flow of knowledge. By doing this we keep the peace, maintaining comfortable happy lives for all Candlemagians!"

Here are some of the funny/quirky inclusions in this story which gave me a smile. The family tree for example is a living tree with names scribed on the leaves.

Endora gives Penn a visitor's ring so she has temporary access to the treasure vault. "It'll give you access for forty-eight house. Right hand, second finger."

"To make cheese you need curdled milk ... but guard cows don't produce milk. They produce screams that can curdle blood. That's why they're known as Bloodcurdlers."

"Milk of all different colours poured down one huge wall like a frothy rainbow waterfall. Penn watched as the colours separated into different streams and flowed down into the biggest and shiniest cauldrons she'd ever seen."

As well as being a rollicking adventure The Lost History has a serious undertone, touching on themes that give the reader pause for thought: leadership, how to rule, friendship, how to view history, the lessons of history, the difference between being smart and clever, and class are just some issues explored. Storylinks

Publisher blurb: After rescuing Princess Seraphine from the evil Malevolents, servant girl Penn thought her fate had finally changed. But now her powerful Talisman is gone and Seraphine is ignoring her again. Even worse, the ruthless Inquisitor has been summoned to uncover why Malevolence has returned to Arylia and fingers are pointing at Penn. Her only hope is to find the Lost History, which might be the key to unlocking both the Inquisitor’s and her own mysterious past. But someone else is hunting for it – only they want to destroy it. Even as she races to retrieve the Lost History, Penn knows that if she digs up her past, she might not like what she finds. Because Malevolence has started calling to her and she’s finding it strangely hard to resist …

In this feminist construction of the hero’s quest, Penn, and her friends, embark on a quest to find a lost history, a book that should shed light on what really happened to the Wintrish people who had a curse placed on them. They encounter forces that oppose their search, people who don’t want what really happened to come to light. On the way, they find it hard to know just who to trust ... Reading Time

Thank you to UQP (University of Queensland Press) for my advance copy of this book. It arrived just prior to my trip to the IBBY Congress in Italy so I have only just had time to pick it up - The Lost History was published in September 2024. Here is the website for Melanie LaBrooy where you can find VERY detailed teachers notes and sample chapters. 

The Wintrish Girl

I listed some companion books in my post about The Wintrish Girl. If you are a fan of The Phantom Tollbooth you are sure to also love The Lost Library.

The Phantom Tollbooth

The Twin Giants by Dick King Smith illustrated by Mini Grey

This story begins on Mountain Number One.

"Once upon a time there lived two brother giants. Twin brothers, in fact, something that's rare among giants. When the first one was born, his giant father looked at the huge baby and said 'Isn't be e-nor-mous!' And when the second one arrived, his giant mother looked at the huge baby and said 'There's a-lot-ov-im!'"

This is how the boys were given their names - Lottavim (Lot) and Normus (Norm). The twins were best friends and alike in every way except when it came to food. Lottavin liked meat while Normus liked vegetables. After a wonderful childhood the boys finally reached their full height of eighteen feet. 

"It's about time I found a wife." They both said.

Now we move to Mountain Number Two and Mountain Number Three.

Lot goes to Mountain Two where he meets a giantess but sadly she is a vegetarian. On Mountain Three Norm also meets a giantess but she is a meat eater. The boys rush to swap places but because they look completely alike both giantesses say NO. 

Sadly they trudge onto Mountain Seven.

They do not want to fight over finding a wife so they head off to different sides of the mountain. Lot finds a beautiful giantess.

"She was almost as tall has him ... and her hair was corn-coloured and her eyes sea blue and her teeth pearly white. Lottavim stared at her dumbstruck". 

Georgina agrees to be his wife but what about Norm. When he sees Georgina he falls totally in love too.  Now we have a real problem. Two giants and one giantess. How can this be resolved? I am sure the happy ending will totally surprise and delight you. 

The Twin Giants will be treasured for years. It's perfect for reading to children, reading together, and then to read alone. The story, the language, everything, are perfectly pitched, and will never feel too babyish or too grown up. There's a gentle level of humour throughout (best summed up by the names of the giants), which puts a smile on everyone's face. It's a warm, cosy, and lovely book. You'd have to have a heart of stone not to love every last page of it. Highly recommended. The Book Bag

The Twin Giants was first published in 2007 so sadly it is long out of print, but you might find a copy in a library. It has been issued with three different covers. Listen to an audio sample here. I used to teach a unit of work to my Grade 4 groups about conflict resolution - this book would be a perfect one for that topic. 

Dick King-Smith served in the Grenadier Guards during the Second World War and afterwards spent twenty years as a farmer in Gloucestershire, the county of his birth. Many of his stories are inspired by his farming experiences. He wrote a great number of children's books, including The Sheep-Pig (winner of the Guardian Award and filmed as Babe), Harry's Mad, The Hodgeheg, Martin's Mice, The Invisible Dog, The Queen's Nose and The Crowstarver. At the British Book Awards in 1991 he was voted Children's Author of the Year. In 2009 he was made OBE for services to children's literature. Dick King-Smith died in 2011 at the age of eighty-eight. Booktrust

The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi illustrated by Greg Hilderbrandt

Any copy of Pinocchio in English is a translation from the original story written in 1883 by Carlo Collodi whose real name was Carlo Lorenzini. His pen name, Collodi, refers to the name of the village where his mother was born. Every time I pick up a copy of Pinocchio I check to see the name of the translator. Often this is not mentioned. My copy featured today says: text adapted and abridged by Elizabeth Haserick.

So, as you can see my copy here today is both a translation, of course, and an abridged version. The actual novel of Pinocchio is 288 pages. I have not read the full book but my version today covers the main incidents. This one illustrated by Greg Hilderbrandt is long out of print but it is sure to be in many libraries. It is a long format picture book and would make a great family read aloud. 

Derived from the Italian words “pino” meaning pine tree and “occhio” meaning eye, Pinocchio’s name symbolizes his creation from a piece of pine wood by the woodcarver Geppetto. The name carries a sense of magic, mystery, and transformation, making it an enduring symbol of childhood wonder and imagination.

Pinocchio is available in many formats from board books to picture books and novels as well as ebook versions and it has been translated into 300 languages. There are also very simple versions such as one from Ladybird books. When I searched on Goodreads I found over 3500 versions of this famous classic.

The story was originally published in serial form as The Story of a Puppet (Italian: La storia di un burattino) in the Giornale per i bambini, one of the earliest Italian weekly magazines for children, starting from 7 July 1881. Near Florence you can visit Pinocchio Park. 

I found this plot summary:

Chapter 1: Pinocchio's Creation

In the first chapter, the kind-hearted woodcarver Geppetto creates Pinocchio out of a magical piece of wood. As soon as Pinocchio comes to life, he starts causing trouble and running away, setting the stage for his misadventures.

Chapter 2: Pinocchio's First Misadventure

Pinocchio encounters the cunning Fox and Cat, who persuade him to join a puppet theater. However, Pinocchio soon realizes that the puppet master intends to turn him into firewood. With the help of the Blue Fairy, Pinocchio escapes, but not without facing consequences for his gullibility.

Chapter 3: Pinocchio's Encounter with the Talking Cricket

Pinocchio meets the Talking Cricket, who advises him to be obedient and honest. Annoyed by the cricket's wise words, Pinocchio throws a hammer at him, inadvertently killing him. This impulsive act sets the stage for Pinocchio's journey of personal growth and redemption.

Chapter 4: Pinocchio's Trip to the Land of Toys

Pinocchio is lured to the Land of Toys, where children can play all day without consequences. However, Pinocchio soon discovers that the Land of Toys is a trap, turning disobedient children into donkeys. He narrowly escapes this fate but is left with donkey ears and a tail as a reminder of his foolishness.

Chapter 5: Pinocchio's Rescue of Geppetto

Pinocchio embarks on a mission to rescue his father figure, Geppetto, who has been swallowed by a giant shark. With courage and determination, Pinocchio saves Geppetto and learns the importance of selflessness and sacrifice.

Chapter 6: Pinocchio's Transformation into a Real Boy

Pinocchio's bravery and selflessness finally earn him the reward he has longed for – a transformation into a real boy. Through his journey, Pinocchio learns the value of honesty, bravery, and the importance of making virtuous choices.

I visited Italy last year. I was intrigued to see every market in Tuscany had Pinocchio puppets for sale in all sizes and price points. Then I went into a beautiful huge bookstore where they had a whole shelving bay full of different versions of Pinocchio. Here is my photo:

There are many ways you could read or use the story of Pinocchio with your class. In art you could compare all the different cover illustrations or look at the work of the famous illustrators below. This book is also a terrific example of a trickster tale. Take a look at my small Pinterest collection. As a read aloud, you could read one story incident each day. My friend from Kinderbookswitheverything shares the books that feature Pinocchio from her library. 

As you would imagine many very famous illustrators have created their own images for this famous story.

Roberto Innocenti (for older students)

Robert Ingpen (This version has 200+ pages)

Ed Young

Emma Chichester Clark

This version is retold by Michael Morpurgo and is part of a 

Reading Program called Oxford Reading Tree - Treetops

Here is a popup version due for publication in 2025:

Simon and Schuster [9781962098113]

Lane Smith