The boy, the bird & the coffin maker - Matilda Woods

"This luminous tale of loss, love and finding family
is threaded through with the power of storytelling, and a touch
of magic. 'A giant of a little thing', as Alberto
would say, The Boy, the Bird, & the Coffin Maker reads
like a classic." Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author
of The Girl of Ink and Stars.

Alberto lives alone in the town of Allora, where fish fly out
of the sea and the houses shine like jewels.

He is a coffin maker, spending his quiet, solitary days creating
the final resting places of Allora's people.

Until the day a mysterious boy and his magical bird arrive
- flying from danger and searching for a safe
haven.

Tito is fearful, suspicious of kindness, but as the winter days
grow colder and darker, Alberto's home grows warmer and brighter.

Can Tito and his bird be sheltered from the town's prying
eyes and the shadows of their past?

• A story of life and death and of how hope can burn bright
  in a place faded by sadness


• A gem of a read: heart-breaking but ultimately life-affirming,
  it celebrates small acts of gentleness and goodness.


• Inclusive, thoughtful and a proper page-turner.


• The lyrical, fairytale-like tone of the writing and the not-quite-real
  setting give the story a timeless quality and the makings
  of a modern classic.


• This is Gabriel Garcia Marquez for children.


• The magical realism of The Boy, the Bird, & the Coffin
  Makerallows the author to tackle a difficult
  subject in an accessible way, as Patrick Ness did in A
  Monster Calls.


• A stunning, standout package: printed endpapers and charming
  full-page illustrations in every chapter make this a beautiful gift