The Spell of a Story is about a child who thinks books are boring. When she begins reading a book her mother read as a child, she quickly finds herself immersed in the adventures she is reading about. I thought this was a sweet picture book that can help reluctant readers discover the power of stories and reading.

This book would be great for reluctant readers. I hope that everyone is able to find a book that gives them the joy of reading.

Thank you Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the wonderful ARC in exchange of an honest review.

*Winner of the Klaus Flugge Prize for Illustration 2023*

The spell of a story starts with last day of the school. The teacher gives assignment to everyone to read a book. But the little girl doesn't like to, she actually hates reading. Going home she whines about the unreasonable task they are asked to complete. Her sister takes her to library to find a book which she might enjoy.

That turns out to be a total surprise as she starts enjoying reading. Once immersed, she imagines everything and more that is written in book. That starts a journey of a reader.

Ain't that journey of every reader?? I remembered my days of school. I used to ask for extra assignments if that meant I could read more. I had my board exams and here I was reading a novel in my mother tongue.

This book made me so nostalgic and I loved it. Highly recommended to emblem that habit of reading in your kids.

This book is about a child who dreads reading and the power of reading and stories. I cannot tell how much my child and I cherished this book. It is witty, heartwarming, cute and has a nice pacing and buildup. The characters are relatable. The artwork is a great match for this book and very unique. I highly recommending this to all readers, and especially to those who are afraid of reading.

I fully enjoyed this book, and my daughter (8) just kept giving me the evil eye because she is the main character of this story. I am trying so hard to get her into reading and I know once I find the right book it will click. This also made my heart smile, because as a librarian, my job is to hopefully bring magic and help that child find the book that clicks with them and unlocks this amazing world of reading.

How to go from disliking reading to becoming a bibliomaniac by finding JUST the right book!
The illustrations by the author are imaginative, colorful, and delightful and FUN!
Well suited for reading alone or WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school, hospital, or your local public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books | Frances Lincoln Children's Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Pub Date 04 Jun 2024

What a gorgeous tale of a child finding 'their' book. This will resonate with many adults and children who have ever struggled to find something to read. The use of colour in the book is very clever and enhances the developing feelings and emotions throughout the story. I can't wait to buy my own copy to share with my class.
Highly recommended!

The wonderful, whimsical tale of a child who discovers just how magical it can be to get lost in a book (metaphorically, of course...or is it? Because part of the charm is how she finds herself fully inside that world, on the quest alongside curious creatures, facing off against a dragon). The illustrations are nicely rendered first in a washed-out monochromatic palette that sets the stage for vivid colors once she enters the world of the book. I laughed a few times in sympathy for the dialogue of the child - petulant, irritated, and frustrated and being told to do something that she just KNOWS she will not enjoy. Until, of course, she discovers that perhaps her mother had steered her right after all...and straight into a fairy tale that the mother herself had loved as a child.

There was just one thing that felt very off. I didn't love the font chosen for the text of the book; it's a small quibble, but the font used in the "real world" felt unusual and weird, which was especially strange once the book creature started to talk, and it used a "regular" font that didn't feel unusual at all. Why didn't they use the "boring" regular font for the real world, and the weird, unusual font for the dialogue inside the book world, to help underscore how strange and wonderful the book world is?? Such an odd choice. But all the other choices made here are lovely, especially the subplot that we see of the mother's loving guidance for the daughter, and how the story ends with them united in their love for reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this eARC for unbiased review. This review will be cross-posted to my social media accounts closer to the book release date.

This was ADORABLE! Such a nice little story about a child discovering the magic of reading after thinking she hated it. The art is stunning, I love the style so much. A simple yet perfect children's short story.

The Spell of a Story by Marajo Ilustrajo is a wonderful and magical story about a girl discovering her love of reading. Getting to see the illustration of a girl falling in love with stories was wonderful. The illustrations themselves were beautiful and really brought you into the story. This is the perfect book for any young children that think reading is a chore.

This is lovely and engaging picture book and an ideal read-aloud for KS1 classroom. The initial resistance to reading at the beginning of the story will certainly get the readers attention. The way the main character becomes completely engrossed in her mother’s childhood favourite book is entirely believable and very endearing. The illustrations cleverly transform between muted and minimal to detailed and vibrant as the love of reading evolves. This is a book written for the US market although equally adaptive for use in UK.

I loved this! I was not a reader growing up, and I feel like this was my exact experience when I discovered fantasy. I loved that the art style changed to really showcase how magical reading is. I think readers of all ages can relate to this story.

I received an ARC from Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved how this story starts out in Black and white but as she gets into the books it turns to bright colors . then it's bright colors as she goes on her journey with some fun and strange looking friends. As she has to stop reading for dinner or bedtime we are back to black and white. Then back into the story in the book is fun colors.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the copy of the ARC.

The Spell of a Story is a wonderfully illustrated picture book about discovering the magic of reading over the Summer holidays. When a little girl goes to the library with her Mum and sister, she is encouraged to read a book that they themselves enjoyed at her age. At its heart, this book encapsulates how reading can transport you to different worlds. The illustrations matched the text beautifully; married elements which ensure that the picture book has a really nice flow from page to page. I also loved that it shows how a love of reading is something that can be nurtured in small children. Bravo Mariajo Illustrajo!

Oh wow I cannot wait for this book to be published! A beautifully illustrated book that uses color to show how reading captures the imagination for a girl who hates reading. This is the perfect book for my elementary library and I will definitely be adding it to our collection.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy, all opinions are my own.

I remembered the first time I fell in love with reading. My mom casually handed me a copy of her favorite novel (it's And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie). I was skeptic I could enjoy and finish it since I rarely read novel and chose to read comic instead. But, OMG, I was drawn into the story and for the next hours I came to my mom and ask if she had another novel.

When I read The Spell of a Story, I found my small me in the main character. I saw book full of text as something boring (and wonder why there is people who loves it). And through very nice illustration, The Spell of Story could bring me to experience one more time how to be "in spell by a good story."

A short book, with very nice pictures, to explain that there's magic inside a book and everyone can be casted by its spell.

Highly recommended!

(Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!)

Thank you to Mariajo Ilustrajo and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this amazing children's book before it is released.

This is one book that you NEED to put on your child's bookshelf as soon as it is available for purchase. The Spell of a Story is about a little girl who has the "dreadful" task of having to read one book over summer break. Soon she realizes, with the help of her sister, that maybe the library can hold some magic. This book will put a spell on you and your child with it's humor and beautiful illustrations. I highly recommend that every teacher gets a copy of this book and reads it aloud to your class. Hopefully this book would inspire your students to learn about the magic of reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

I can't quite put my finger on it, but for some reason I think this book might be an instant classic. The illustrations were charming. It reminded me of the vintage illustrations of childrens books from the early to mid 1900s. I also enjoyed the story and I would say it was pretty easy to follow. If I had a child, I would buy this book for them.
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This is a stunning picturebook about a little girl is forced to face her misgivings about reading after her teacher sets her class a holiday reading assignment. This heart-warming tale about the journey to become a reader is joyful and vibrant, and anyone who is familiar with Mariajo Illustrajo’s other books (Lost and Flooded) will know they are in for a visual treat. The transformative effect of reading is beautifully conveyed in the artwork One of my favourite picturebooks of 2024 so far!

Book 041 of 300 ~ 2024

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!

Everyone who has kids who hate reading or even adults themselves who hate reading, will definitely be enticed with this one.

The way the author and illustrator depict what is is like to go from being a book hater to a book lover is cleverly depicted here.

Did I mention that I love love love this brilliant book??

I feel like I haven't said it enough.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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