This one's a relative newcomer to our shelf of "Keepers" but you couldn't wish for a better combination of creatives to work on a book that chronicles the life of one of the most influential gothic horror writers that ever lived.

"Mary and Frankenstein" by Linda Bailey and Julia Sarda combines the fantastic life story of Mary Shelley with the truly fitting and utterly mesmerising illustrations of Julia Sarda in a biography that does a huge amount to raise the profile of Shelley amongst younger readers.

We've often championed darker books on the blog, and of course quite a few dark books are in our #Booky100Keepers list but when you consider just how amazingly influential Mary Shelley's Frankenstein actually was, and how even to this day it continues to inspire horror fans, writers, directors and illustrators, it's fantastic to find a children's book that really does Mary's story proper justice.

Mary was a daydreamer as a child but always liked to create stories, but while on retreat with Percy Bysshe Shelley (who would become her husband), John Polidori and her sister, Mary dreams up the horror tale to end all horror tales as a storm sweeps in across Lake Geneva.

The rest, as they say, is history. Mary and Percy's relationship may have been stormy but he acted as her agent, and ensured that "Frankenstein (or the Modern Prometheus)" became a publishing sensation - and of course a world famous tale of a monster and his master, brought to life in a truly terrifying way.

We've said it before in the course of these articles and we'll say it again. Julia Sarda can do no wrong, and with Linda's deft and descriptive writing, this is one of the best ways to give your kids a few chills down their spine, and a very unusual picture book well deserving of a place in our list.

Original Review Link: 

ReadItDaddy's First Book of the Week - Week Ending 5th October 2018: "Mary, Who Wrote Frankenstein" by Linda Bailey and Julia Sarda (Andersen Children's Books / Tundra Press)

Ah! Another rule breaker! How we love them so, and in "The Liszts" by Kyo Maclear and Julia Sarda, you'll meet a very strange bunch of folk indeed.

Mama Liszt, Papa Liszt, Winifred, Edward, Frederick and Grandpa Liszt make lists all day long. Even their cat makes lists, but when a peculiar and eccentric stranger worms his way into their home, he's definitely NOT on any of their lists at all!

There is order in this chaos. The order...of LISTS!

I swear Winifred has the same vinyl collection I had as a teen. Nina Hagen and Bowie and Kraftwerk, oh my!

Pairing one of the most magical and influential children's stories of all time, with one of the most incredible illustrators working in children's books today is, quite honestly, a stroke of genius.

"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll and Julia Sarda may well be yet another edition of the classic story, but it's Julia's illustrations that you've come for this time round, and though you may own about a zillion copies of this book in all its various forms (and like us, might think that no one can better the original John Tenniel illustrations) you might just change your mind once you see the 30 new pieces Julia has worked on for this book.

You're probably already familiar with the story of a young girl who daydreams about adventures, but is drawn into the chaotic and crazy world of Wonderland after a chance meeting with a talking white rabbit.

Following the rabbit into a deep hole is just the beginning of Alice's adventures as she meets some truly strange and wonderful characters like the caterpillar, the cheshire cat and of course the Queen of Hearts and her rather strange entourage.

Those illustrations though, let's tease a few below:






Personally we think Julia should illustrate EVERYTHING and we make no apologies for making this our Picture Book of the Week this week, even though technically it's a chapter book. You will not want to miss this one, it's a real keeper!

Sum this book up in a sentence: Lewis Carroll's chaotic and crazy story is beautifully brought to life by Julia's glorious art style, filled with detail and charm.

"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll and Julia Sarda is out now, published by Two Hoots Books (kindly supplied for review). 

This week's First Book of the Week made both our jaws drop through the floor the moment we clapped eyes on it...

We're months away from our favourite season, in either direction but we still love the idea of swooshing through crackling brown leaves in the Autumn...

Our First Book of the Week is unshakeably cool, gloriously surreal and wonderfully odd. Meet "The Liszts"!