I am still trying to learn French, as I have for a number of years - and one of the key reasons I have for learning this gorgeous language is my unapologetic love for all things French / Belgian when it comes to children's books and comics.

Case in point - the truly amazing "Stig and Tilde: Vanisher's Island" by Max De Radigues.

Radigues is a Belgian author whose work is well known across the Channel, but only came to our attention last year with the truly stunning "Vanisher's Island", finally translated into English by NoBrow / Flying Eye.

We've championed 'dark' children's books all throughout the last ten years of book blogging. Nothing captures a child's imagination like a story that dances between light and shadow as effectively as this comic tale of two sibs who set out on an annual summer camp expedition in their small boat, only to end up marooned on a mysterious island.

They think they're alone, and begin to make the best of their circumstances - until Tilde realises that they might not be the only ones on the island. Who is the mysterious new friend she makes, and why are they keen to scupper the twins' plans to fix their boat and escape?

This is fantastic comic making from the crisp clear artwork right down to the shivery cold fingers of dread it plays up and down your spine as you realise Tilde's plight, and what the mysterious stranger has in mind for her. It's just on the right side of a very fine line between outright scariness and 'hide behind the sofa' type frights but it's a masterful piece of work. The second volume is due to arrive in August and you know what, we will damned well come out of retirement just to talk about it, you see if we don't!

Original review links: 

ReadItDaddy's Comic / Graphic Novel of the Week - Week Ending 2nd August 2019: "Stig and Tilde: Vanisher's Island" by Max De Radigues (NoBrow / Flying Eye Books)

Our Picture Book, Chapter Book and Comic / Graphic Novel of the year winners for 2019

Wow, and once again WOW. This is the sort of graphic novel anthology that fills us with joy. After all, why settle for just one story in a fabulous comic-based anthology when you can have several.

In "The Gamayun Tales Volume 1" Alexander Utkin gathers together his previous releases from Flying Eye / NoBrow into one sumptuous and luxurious volume, a fantastic set of stories to curl up with - and the perfect introduction for kids who haven't yet got into comics or graphic novels but want a really good jumping-in point (warning though kids, it'll become a lifelong obsession, we can most definitely vouch for this).

Russian folk tales are a rich and verdant source for amazing stories filled with magic, excitement and fantasy.

Meet terrifying water spirits, lake-dwelling magical creatures and regal feathered friends (and fiends). Like a modern-day Aesops Fables filled with amazing creatures, Alexander's stories are dark, enticing and exciting - and the artwork is absolutely gorgeous, colourful and super-detailed.
Let's take a look at one of the panels inside:

Kids are naturally drawn to comic storytelling and rich visual narratives, and this is a prime example of the sort of graphic novel we get very excited about. We truly are living through a new golden age of amazing kid comics, and this is one of the finest.

"The Gamayun Tales Volume 1" by Alexander Utkin is out on 1st March 2020, published by NoBrow / Flying Eye Books.