Júlia Sardà

One restless night, Franca has a vivid and startling dream about a marvelous queen who lives deeply hidden inside a dark forest cave. Unable to sit still until she uncovers the truth, Franca decides she must investigate. Along with her two younger sisters, Carmela and Tomasina, she bravely ventures into the wild woods at the very edge of their garden. As the three sisters travel deeper through tangled nettles and thickets, the world around them begins to shift in impossible ways. They encounter bizarre beasts and magical creatures that both shock and delight them, narrowly escaping terrible dangers along the way. Together, they must learn to be bold and face their deepest fears. What they finally discover waiting inside the cave is the most thrilling and unexpected magic of all.

Everything is changing for Carmela. Her older sister has made terrible new friends, leaving Carmela feeling completely lost and deeply lonely. Seeking an escape from her sadness, she decides to go for a long walk. She walks until she cannot possibly walk anymore, and then she walks just a little bit further. Her journey leads her to a strange and towering structure hidden away from the world. What she discovers inside will transform her life forever. She enters a mesmerizing place where a giant's hair helps you face bullies and a dome of crystal prisms opens a view directly into the cosmos. This dreamlike adventure is a fantastical exploration of hidden magic and growing up. It invites you to brave the unknown and discover exactly who you are meant to be.

Young Mary is a dreamer who finds her only escape from a strict father and overbearing stepmother in the world of stories. She even learns to read by tracing the letters on her famous mother's tombstone. Unhappy at home, she seeks independence and eventually runs away with a fellow dreamer. Their travels take them to Switzerland, where they meet a famous poet during a stormy summer evening. Gathered around a crackling fire, a contest is proposed to see who can create the very best ghost story. Soon, Mary experiences a waking dream about a monster coming to life. This atmospheric biography explores the artistic inspiration behind one of the greatest horror novels ever written. It is a captivating look at a brilliant young woman and the powerful imagination that sparked a legendary science fiction masterpiece.

Edgar's bad mood begins as something really small, hardly a thing at all. But instead of fading away, it begins to grow. It gathers pace, picks up strength, and soon his terrible mood is spreading through the entire town like a swirling storm. What started as a minor grumble transforms into a massive physical force that sweeps up everything in its path. Now Edgar must figure out how to confront his overwhelming feelings and clear the air. Can he find a way to sweep his towering troubles away before they take over completely? This beautifully illustrated story provides a gentle and uplifting look at how quickly emotions can spiral out of control. It is a wonderful exploration of recognizing big feelings and learning how to let them go.

It all started when a man built a successful mine in Idaho and sold it to an Englishman named Henry Miller. Henry soon married a local woman named Annie and built her a massive, magnificent mansion. But after Henry passed away, Annie was tricked and lost everything except her beautiful home. Left with few options, she and her son began raising pigs in the yard. The townspeople were furious and demanded the pigs be removed immediately. Instead of getting rid of her animals, Annie came up with a brilliantly outrageous plan. She decided to keep the pigs and move the entire mansion instead. Slowly rolling the massive house away on logs, Annie and her son continued living inside while it moved. This quirky and lively true story celebrates incredible American ingenuity and resilience.

The Liszt family loves to make lists. They make lists of the most usual things and lists of the most unusual things. They make lists during winter, spring, summer, and fall. In fact, they make lists every single day of the week except for Sundays, which are entirely listless. Mama, Papa, Winifred, Edward, Frederick, and Grandpa spend their entire day cataloging the world around them. Even their family cat gets in on the list making action. But their perfectly organized routine is interrupted when a strange visitor suddenly arrives at their door. This mysterious guest is not on anyone's list at all. Will the family be able to make room in their tidy lives for something entirely unexpected? This whimsical story is a humorous and unforgettable celebration of spontaneity and keeping an open mind.

Leina holds a very important job as the owner of the only boat in her entire town. Every day, she ferries the local townspeople across the water to a sprawling, shadowed forest where they chop trees and hunt for food. But the forest is deeply feared by everyone, and it is well known that not everyone who goes in comes back out again. When her good friend Oren fails to return from his trip, Leina bravely sets out on a dangerous rescue mission. Deep within the woods, she encounters a mysterious figure named Mr. Spadefoot, who calls himself The Lord of the Toadstools. Hoping he knows what happened to Oren, Leina accepts a strange invitation to dine in his magical underground palace, uncovering the darkest secrets of the disappearing townspeople.

Duckworth is considered a very difficult child. At least, that is what his extremely strict parents believe. So when Duckworth frantically tries to explain that a gigantic cobra has slithered out of his bedroom closet, his parents refuse to listen. They insist it is all in his head and tell him he is far too old to be imagining such ridiculous nonsense. They just want him to do his chores. Even when the massive snake slides right up and swallows Duckworth completely whole, his parents remain entirely unconvinced. They simply ask where he found such a silly snake costume and demand he put it away. What is a boy to do when his parents absolutely will not pay attention? This deliciously dark and funny story explores exactly how to handle impossibly stubborn adults.

Deep in the dark and quiet forest, the Wolf is a masterful hunter feared by every creature. But he hides a secret that goes against everything he is supposed to be. Hidden within the woods lives a girl with a voice so beautiful it has completely entranced him. The Wolf listens to her sing and longs for a friend, but reaching out means stepping into the unknown and risking everything he has ever known. To make his deepest wish come true, he must decide if he is willing to sacrifice his fierce nature. This lyrical fairy tale explores what happens when we choose trust over fear. It is a stunning story about looking beyond differences and discovering the incredible power of true friendship to overcome the greatest of obstacles.

When a poor fisherman needs to choose a godfather for his newborn son, he turns away from everyone else and makes a shocking choice. He selects Death. The fisherman is absolutely certain he has made a brilliant decision, believing that no one in the world is more honest or fair than Death himself. At the child's christening, Death presents the fisherman with a highly unusual gift. At first, this mysterious present seems like the perfect key to unlocking the family's fortune and securing their future. But as the fisherman's wealth grows, so does his terrible greed. He soon attempts to use the gift to trick his son's powerful godfather. He is about to learn a terrifying lesson about fate, honesty, and the chilling truth that nobody can truly cheat Death.