When Natasha makes a selfish choice, she finds herself trapped in a lavish but lonely palace, far from her widowed father. Will she find a way to escape and see her father again? This poignant tale, inspired by Russian folklore, will help start conversations about the importance of family.

What Kind of Book is The Blue Bird's Palace

Gallery

Life was good. As she grew up, the little Natasha would often help her parents in the orchard. She liked to climb the ladders to the tallest branches of the fruit trees, pick the very best apples and fill up the fruit baskets. If she felt tired, she would curl up like a cat under the trees and fall asleep.

Natasha wondered what she should wish for. This was her chance! “I’d like a palace!” she announced. “Not just any old palace, though, a magical one – one where I can invent all kinds of different rooms whenever I like.” The old woman sighed. She had secretly watched Natasha growing up, and she had seen her heart growing even harder. It was high time this girl learned a lesson. “Your wish will be granted,” she said, “but on one condition. You will not be able to leave the magical palace.” “That’s quite all right,” said Natasha. “I won’t want to.” At this, the old woman raised her arms. There was a flash of blue lighting, a whirl of some feathers, the sweet song of a bird and, somewhere far off, the sound of somewhere weeping. Then everything vanished – the woman, the bird, and Natasha.

When Natasha woke up much, much later, she found herself all along in a magnificent red sitting room. In the middle of the room, there were two armchairs and a small table. Exquisite blue flowers wove patterns across the walls and the tablecloth. Their workmanship was so fine that the flowers almost looked as if they were real. Natasha dared herself to touch them. Then she looked around. There was something strange about this room. That was it! There was no door.

Natasha found the simple dress that she had been wearing when she first imagined her palace. There would be no more dressing up sessions; no more walks through her splendid rooms; no more magnificent feasts… One by one, the rooms disappeared. Soon, only the sitting room, the kitchen, the bedroom and the garden remained. Natasha spent her time quite differently now. Every day, she gathered fruit in the garden. Then she made jams and baked loaves of spiced bread. Little by little, her heart softened and began to open. Every night, Natasha turned herself into a blue bird and flew out of the palace. She took with her baskets of the bread she had made during the day and left loaves on the doorsteps of the poorest cottages she could find. And everyone blessed these gifts that fell at night from the sky.

Reviews

The Goodfather

5.00

Beautifully illustrated, tender folktale.

Marmee

5.00

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The Creatives Behind the Book

Author

Orianne Lallemand

Orianne Lallemand: Orianne Lallemand has had her work published by numerous publishers. A lover of books and writing, she spends her time writing stories and conducting book workshops in schools and libraries.

Illustrator

Carole Haenaff

Carole Hénaff is inspired by her travels and is never without her sketchbook. She studied theatrical literature in Parish before moving to Barcelona to study graphic design and illustration. Carole has illustrated children’s books in France and Spain, including Smara, which was awarded the Isaac Díaz Pardo prize for Best Illustrated Book, 2006.

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Book Details

ISBN: 9781846868856
Publication Date: September 1, 2016
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Text Details: This book was typeset in Caleigh and Carmina Md
Illustration Details: The illustrations were prepared in acrylics
Page Count: 32
Audience: Picture
Reading Age: 5 - 8 years
Lib. of Congress (LCCN): 2016039294
WorldCat Number (OCLC): 962408638
Scholastic Level: O

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