Magic Callaloo

Trish Cooke writes multi-racial children’s books, scripts for theatre, television, radio and film. She is also an actress. Her series of inter-racial adaptations of children's fairy tales have been popular at the Theatre Royal Stratford East. Cinderella (2007) was the first pantomime to be nominated for an Olivier Award. Sophie Bass draws inspiration from her mixed British and Trinidadian heritage and from music, social justice, mythology and symbolism. She works by hand employing traditional techniques with gouache and pen to create contemporary images characterized by strong figures, vivid colours and a distinctive style.

This colourful, fabulous Rapunzel retelling features a magic wishing callaloo plant, a selfish thief and a dauntless girl with huge beautiful curls, inspired by stories of enslaved Africans who wove patterns and escape maps into their cornrowed hair. A wonderful text-rich picture book for readers of 5+.