King Ocean's Flute

Description

On an Italian hillside, Paulo the shepherd boy plays his wooden flute badly, but thinks he is a match for King Ocean himself. Before he knows it he's swept beneath the waves to an underwater world of dolphins and merfolk. Here King Ocean challenges him to play not only all the songs of the earth, but the songs of the sea, or else stay captive and polish mermaid's scales and scrub salt off the seabed for seven long years. A lyrical story complemented by Peter Malone's stunning fine art illustrations.

Promotion info

Classic picture book Fine art paintings by Peter Malone HOW MANY MILES TO BETHLEHEM?, Peter's most recent picture book, was longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Award Lucy Coats is the author of picture books and fiction including COLL THE STORYTELLER'S TALES OF ENCHANTMENT and ATTICUS THE STORYTELLER'S GREEK MYTHS (sales over 39,000 copies) Colour proofs available

Reviews

'owes something to Italian Renaissance painting. Witty details add a note of surreality to this skilful, minutely observed, decorative masterpiece' -- Nicolette Jones THE SUNDAY TIMES 'A magical picture book with a truly classic feel... Malone's fine art illustrations hav an enchanting evocative flavour.' -- Anne Johnstone THE HERALD 'the loveliest summer book of all ... [a] fairytale about a boy musician who outplays the King of the Sea.' -- Amanda Craig THE TIMES 'Peter Malone's shimmering pictures of land and sea creatures make it ideal for the seaside.' -- Amanda Craig THE TIMES 'illustrated by Peter Malone, whose exquisite pictures give life and depth to this fable by Lucy Coats.' UNDERCOVER 'A beautifully illustrated, lyrical story' CHILD EDUCATION

Author description

Peter Malone has illustrated a number of picture books for Orion. He was commissioned by the Royal Mail for a set of Christmas stamps. He lives in Bath with his wife and two daughters. Lucy Coats read Ancient History at Edinburgh University, then worked in children's publishing. She now writes full-time from her home in Northamptonshire, and is working on a collection of Celtic tales for Orion. Peter Malone lives in Bath. He has a reputation for picture books of great distinction, inspired by his love of the Renaissance masters.