Quite an achievement

There is plenty of excitement, a little danger, a quality of thinking, planning and fun which is delightful and stimulating

Swallowdale is a real book . . . Even better than Swallows and Amazons

Praise for The Book of Joy (adult book): The world needs joy and compassion more than ever before. A bright spot of hope and love in this world.

Realizing that making mistakes is part of the process could be a game-changer for the many kids who can't conquer their discouragement when their art falls short of their expectations

Even if readers don't need encouragement to unleash their own talents, they should be intrigued by this protagonist's arc toward artistic assurance

This book is perfect to read with children who have started drawing but sometimes feel disheartened when their drawing doesn't turn out exactly as they see it in their heads ... a stunningly beautiful book with a message for young and old - and it makes readers look anew and refreshed at the world. Ed Vere is one of the most talented children's books creators of our time and takes the care to make every word and every mark mean something, in or out of the lines