An author who needs no introduction, but what a joy to find so much of her work brought together in one superlative book. This really is a celebration of a remarkable author/illustrator and it's a book to cherish. The book is in four sections, according to age, so there are many many years of sheer joy to be had, from Mudlarks, on to Dogger, then Sea Singing and Enchantment in the Garden. Shirley Hughes' portrayal of family life and of children is timeless and has brought pleasure to so many, so this is a fitting celebration. The book illustrates the extraordinary versatility of this author who manages to create marvellous stories which enthrall all ages. The book is beautifully produced, with all the original illustrations and deserves pride of place in every child's library, and many adults will have fond memories of many of the stories and will delight in sharing them with their own children.

A little nostalgia never goes amiss at Christmas. So, if you remember Dogger, Alfie and Lucy and Tom, they are all here, in this vast collection. Ranging from early stories and rhymes to longer tales for older juniors, this lavishly illustrated collection makes a lovely family gift.

Jamila Gavin is one of our most consistently good writers of fiction for children young and old […] the feel is timeless, but the stories are all original, touched with the magic of Gavin’s vibrant and varied imagination.

Gavin’s six stories are spooky, engaging and refreshing in their originality. Complemented by Richard Collingridge’s atmospheric illustrations, this lovely book deserves to become a classic.

Absolutely gorgeous . . . Perfect for sharing and for reading alone, I can't recommend Blackberry Blue and Other Fairy Tales highly enough.

All the traditional elements of fairy tales are here, making this storytelling at its best.

Beautifully told, magical, dark and mysterious in the best fairytale tradition . . . these are exactly the stories a 21st century classroom needs. The stories will be a joy to read aloud but the beautiful illustrations by the talented Richard Collingridge are crying out to be appreciated by an individual reader tucked away in a classroom book corner.

The collection of stories were fantastic. There are six altogether and I would have problems picking out my favourite to be honest, I loved them all.

The quality of the stories is second to none and adults will enjoy reading them with their children just as much as the kids themselves. A real winner, and should be up for several literary prizes

A stunning collection of mystical fairy tales, Blackberry Blue is packed with picturesque moments that will bewitch readers

Six enchanting examples in the best tradition of storytelling . . . A treat for the
nines-plus.

I fell in love with it . . . an important, essential, beautiful collection of stories.

The talented Jamila Gavin is an author to watch and these refreshingly original and exciting stories are guaranteed to enchant children of every age.

Blackberry Blue and Other Fairytales is a beautifully written collection of stories that belongs on pretty much everybody's bookshelf. The descriptions that the author gives of these wonderful worlds are just magical and it is so easy to lose yourself in those words. Even though the stories are fairly short I fell deeply into the world created by the author every time and ended up feeling disappointed at the end of each story because I didn't want it to end . . . These stories are beautiful and magical and are perfect for older children and grown-ups alike.

An extraordinary and charming read for any young girl or boy.

It is the storytelling and the language that gives the collection the power to entrance; to be drawn into the spell of the story . . . I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the reading.