"The Wonderful Adventures of Nils" is definitely a break from the ordinary everyday children's picture book.
Written by Nobel prize in Literature winner Selma Lagerlöf, and adapted by Kochka, it's a nice long and satisfying fable of a young boy whose mischievous antics get him into trouble with an elf. Shrunk to thumb-size, Nils is suddenly forced to see the world from a whole new point of view!
Thankfully Nils makes a new friend, in the form of a wise old goose named Morten who wisks Nils off on a whirlwind journey and a quest that will perhaps undo the spell the boy has been placed under.
This version of the classic tales by Selma Lagerlof features the most glorious ethereal atmosphere, thanks to brilliant writing and translation. That's before we even get to the wondrous illustrations by Olivier Latyk. His combination of beautifully illustrated panels and the most delicately intricate papercut 'cut-outs' take the story to a whole new dimension.
It's fantastic to see another 'world tale' brought to stunning life in this way.
"The Wonderful Adventures of Nils" is out now, published by Words and Pictures.