A Necklace of Raindrops: and Other Stories

A Necklace of Raindrops: and Other Stories is a collection of eight wonderfully imaginative tales by Joan Aiken, brought to life with nearly 60 vibrant illustrations by Kevin Hawkes. Each story is a standalone magical adventure, ranging from a flying apple pie to a cat larger than an elephant and a house that lays an egg. Aiken's "delicious prose" makes this book a joy for parents to read aloud to younger children (ages 4-7), while its engaging narratives and accessible language also make it suitable for early independent readers (ages 8-11). The book beautifully captures the dreamlike quality of classic fairy tales, emphasizing the triumph of good over bad in a gentle, whimsical manner. It's an ideal choice for fostering imagination and providing satisfying, short reading sessions.

Here are eight gloriously imaginative stories for eight satisfying sessions of bedtime reading. There's a flying apple pie, a cat that's bigger than an elephant, a house that lays an egg, storybook animals that leap out of their books at night, and a wealth of other wonderful characters and ideas, all with the colorful, dreamlike quality of the very best fairy tales. Joan Aiken's delicious prose is a joy to read aloud to very young listeners yet simple enough for the independent reader to savor on his or her own. Kevin Hawkes's illustrations--nearly 60 of them--capture with great flair and fun the magical adventures and the triumph of the good over the bad.From the Trade Paperback edition.