I picked both of these paperbacks up from Waterstones for £6.99 each.

The Crow’s Tale by Naomi Howarth.

The beautiful vibrant colour attracted my eye immediately. The story is completely intriguing with a fable feel. At first I thought it was a retelling of the Icarus fable but the twist at the end was a pleasant surprise. All the animals are freezing cold and the crow volunteers to take a branch to the sun to bring fire back. The crow gets too close to the sun, scorching his feather’s black, and soot makes his throat croaky. The message of the story is about inner beauty told in a very sympathetic way. A beautiful treasure of a book, Howarth is a true artist and I look forward to seeing what she does next.

The Bear and the Piano.

The cover once again intrigued me and I was attracted to the textural images inside. The story feels long for a picture book which is extra value for money. A magical element to this story wraps all the elements into an entertaining package. A woodland bear learns to play the piano. Leaving his home he performs in the city. Missing his home, the bear returns to see his family. It is a book about family and where you came from. It is easy to get lost in the woodland illustrations. A true beauty.