BRADFORD author Trish Cooke had great success with her debut book, So Much, which was recently chosen as one of the BBC’s 100 greatest children’s books.
It won the 0-5 category of the Nestle Smarties Book Prize, the WH Smith Under Fives Book Prize and the Kurt Maschler Award, and was Highly Commended for the Kate Greenaway Medal.
Trish’s new book is The Magic Callaloo, based on the Rapunzel fairytale, and inspired by stories of enslaved Africans.
Long ago and far away, a magic callaloo plant grew in a village square. Whoever ate one of its leaves was granted a wish. But a greedy, selfish man wanted all the wishes for himself so he stole the callaloo.
With only one leaf left, Mister and Missus, desperate for a child, pluck it to make their dream come true. But the greedy man kidnaps their beloved daughter - who will ultimately make the most remarkable escape.
Says Trish: “The Magic Callaloo pays homage to my ancestors and the roads they walked to freedom.”
Trish has written for children’s TV shows including JojoJojo and Gran and Number One Newton Avenue on Cbeebies. She was a presenter and writer on the BBC’s Playdays series and her series of inter-racial adaptations of children’s fairytales have been staged at the Theatre Royal Stratford East. Trish also wrote the book and lyrics for the first pantomime nominated for an Olivier Award.
The Magic Callalo (Walker Books, £12,99) is illustrated by Sophie Bass, who draws inspiration from her British and Trinidadian heritage and “music, social justice, mythology and symbolism”.
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