Beautifully illustrated, this book was a delight to read. This book tells the tale of Hortense and her fear of her own shadow. Although this book would be best suited to younger children, it's stunning pictures and flowing words make it appealing to readers both young and old. Perfect bedtime story.

I don’t often review picture books. I’m not the target audience. It is the illustrations by Lauren O’Hara that make the exception. My favourite parts, the watercolour shadows capture a child’s personality and the faces of the Bandits are menacing. The illustrations make this a picture book I would pick up and buy for someone’s child.

Lauren’s sister, Natalia, pairs the illustrations with the simple, but hidden-depth story. It’s a dark fantasy reminds me of an Eastern European fairytale. Presenting adults with an opportunity to discuss fears, strangers, and self-esteem. My one point? I’d like the story to be longer. The Bandits, for instance, came from nowhere, although they make wonderful characters.

The illustrations would attract me to buy this book. The story would make me come back to it again.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley and Penguin Random House UK Children’s, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
This is a wonderful book and deserves to be found in every growing child's stocking this Christmas. My copy is an e-book but the pictures and the layout deserve a bound book format saving the eBook for other times after it has been read and enjoyed on the printed page. Often new fairy tales are but weak imitations of the great Grimm and Anderson tradition, but this is truly a new, bright, lively story which will delight and send some shivers down every reader's back.
Natalia's writing is crisp and lovingly phrased, Lauren's pictures are just what a fairy tales pictures should be disarmingly simple but enhancing the text and intermingling the phrases within the drawings is nothing short of genius. This has really set the scene for the festive season in true eastern European style. I look forward to more stories from these two clever collaborators.

This is such a cute and imaginative read that children and adults alike will love. Hortense is a young girl who hates her shadow and then comes to realise that she shouldn't be so hateful, as she needs her shadow, it will forever be a part of her.

With beautiful illustrations, and compelling prose this is a book adults should definitely pick up for their children.

This is the most beautiful story about a young girl and her shadow. The story has a beautiful lyrical quality, with some excellent imagery, that is perfectly complimented by the lovely illustrations, Hortense hates her shadow and only sees the worst in it, until one day something helps her to see the world in a different way. It’s a great book for thinking about perception vs. reality and a lovely story to get children to debate their own ideas. A great addition to any classroom!

Gorgeously illustrated in beautiful muted colours, this story is a delight from start to finish

This is a beautiful book with a beautiful story. It has an old story feel to it, when you read the bio of the authors it is obvious that old stories have been a big part of their lives. I was drawn to the artwork originally, the whimsical, delicate pastel illustrations are superb. They manage to capture the atmosphere of the setting and the story. The story itself is based on Hortense and her dislike of her shadow, it follows her everywhere, at night turning into a dark, creepy shadow that was scary. She manages to cut the shadow off, but can feel it’s presence, but one night it comes to her rescue. Hortense realises her shadow is something that is an extension of herself, can make her appear taller, longer and reach further.

This is a book I would love to have read as a child, and would love to have read to my now grown up children. It is a story with a message, is beautifully written and I loved the illustrations.

I really liked this book. It is beautifully illustrated. This book may be small but its a wonderful story of little girl called Hortense, everywhere she went her shadow followed. She hates her shadow but after a scary event she realises that she really does she need it.

This book is going to be an excellent talking point in my classroom with my young pupils. Plus, maybe some role play which will help my class to engage in issues that may help with their fears etc and help them talk about them with others in their class as a group discussions.
Well Done to Natalia O'Hara and Lauren O'Hara for a lovely book and Penguin Random House UK Children’s Puffin Children's Fiction for letting me review it and give an honest review.

5 * review.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2183834002
Plus on Amazon Uk.

A wonderful picture book with absolutely stunning illustrations and a clever story that teaches kids how they can turn some of the absurd fears they may have into their assets. The Russian-inspired theme was brilliant and I would definitely recommenda this book as a most fitting Christmas gift for the little (or even big!) ones.

Sometimes you’ll get little gems. Little surprises which makes you feel warm inside.

Hortense and the Shadow is one of those gems! Not something I’d pick up easily simply because it is a picture book for children. But Hortense and the Shadow is more, it’s a fairy tale about things you do not like which turn out to be good. And, let’s be honest, who doesn’t like fairy tales?

The watercolor drawings are lovely, there’s things to discover in each drawing and the style is persistence.

Bravo to the authors and the publisher for bringing this to the world!

A wonderful tale about self love and acceptance. Hortense hates her shadow, but soons learns how useful her shadow can be. This was a joy to read, my four year old loved it and clearly understood the message being portrayed. It’s beautifully illustrated and would make a lovely gift.

A beautifully illustrated book. Hortense is afraid of her shadow, she hates that it follows her around and changes into creepy looking shapes. She tries everything she can to escape it and eventually succeeds, but she will realise that it is a part of her that she should embrace instead of fear.

I really liked this book and it has some beautiful illustrations. In the story the little girl hates her shadow but after a scary event she realises that she really does she need it. A nice book to read with and too younger readers. 4 stars

A really beautiful folk tale. The illustrations are visually stunning and the story is really sweet. Would definitely buy for younger relatives.

I love picture books, this one is no different. The illustrations are incredible and the story itself is whimsical and teaches a story. Nothing is ever as it is, but there's always a reason why something is there or happens.

Lauren en Natalia O'Hara created a beautiful little fairy tale that I will definitely keep in the back of my mind!

This is a charming debut by the O'Hara sisters, written like a fable for children. The story follows fiery little Hortense, who hates her shadow. The delicate drawings that accompany this book are visually stunning at any age with finely detailed panels on every page. I really love the Eastern European style, which shines through even before noting that the entire book is inspired by the Polish folktales told to the author and her sister in their own childhood. On the surface, Hortense seems a simple tale but actually addresses quite a bit that children can respond to such as independence, self doubt and fear, courage, trust, and confidence. Like all of the best stories, it's easy to find a little of ourselves in little Hortense.

A heartwarming short story about a little girl that hates her shadow. Very pretty illustrations that lift your mood up and I really enjoyed reading this. Stunning visually and a fairy story about the light and dark. Highly recommended and can help explsining the need to overcome fears.

I loved this children's picture book. I think sometimes, no matter how old you are, a simple tale, with beautiful illustrations, can just lift the soul.

I loved the message the book gave , about things that seem bad are sometimes good, and not prejudging and being open to change.

The book was just a little bit scary for younger readers, but not enough to give them nightmares! My son would have loved it when he was little.

Hortense and the shadow by Natalie o'hara and lauren o'hara.
Through the dark and wolfish woods, through the white and silent snow, lived a small girl called Hortense. Though kind and brave, she was sad as an owl because of one thing . . . Hortense hated her shadow." A beautifully illustrated dark fairy tale that will remind you of the fables you read as a child. A treasure not to be missed.
Hortense hated her shadow. Everywhere she went, it went. Everything she did, it did. And every time night fell it grew, tall and dark and crooked. 
A lovely short read. Loved the pictures to. 5*. Netgalley and peguins random house uk children's.

This was a beautifully illustrated book with a unique storyline. It was charming and unexpected. I loved it.