Praise for The Secret of the Magic Pearl

? "Beautiful, remarkable, amazing, and wonderful in every way. Sabatinelli provides Hector with a voice that soars with lilting, expressive language, losing nothing in Turner’s translation from Italian. Bruno’s intensely bright, sharply hued illustrations are a tour de force"
Kirkus Reviews

? "Hector is an appealing and adorable protagonist, and the glowing descriptions bring the bustling seaside town fully to life. Bruno’s accompanying illustrations are an absolute delight . . . An exceptional story that will have young readers longing for the sea.”
Booklist

? "Sabatinelli, making her children’s debut, narrates deliberately, swinging between reflection and adventure. Diving scenes and undersea sensations are vividly described, all translated with skill and flair by Turner. Bruno drafts characters and scenery with polished elegance; hand-drawn chapter heading banners, labeled vignettes, and brilliant colors give the pages a luxe feel."
Publisher's Weekly

. . . a handsome book, printed in gorgeous, rich-hued colors, with a thoughtful hero, a first-rate villain, magic, adventure, and a convincing happy ending.
The Horn Book Magazine

About the Author

Elisa Sabatinelli was born in Fano, Italy, and grew up in Barcelona, Spain. She has published short stories and a novel for adults. The Secret of the Magic Pearl is her first book for children. Sabatinelli lives in Milan with her husband and two children. To learn more, visit her on Facebook at @elisa.sabatinelli. Iacopo Bruno has illustrated hundreds of book covers and has received recognition from the Society of Illustrators in New York, the Cook Prize, and his book, Sergeant Reckless, written by Patricia McCormick, won the Texas Bluebonnet Award and the California Young Reader Medal 2021. Other books illustrated by Iacopo Bruno include Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France by Mara Rockliff and Bartali’s Bicycle: The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy’s Secret Hero by Megan Hoyt. When he is not drawing, he takes his boat in search of dolphins and, if the weather is bad, restores paintings and antique furniture in his cellar full of tools and curiosities. Learn more at his website: http://iacopobruno.blogspot.com/ and www.theworldofdot.com/. Christopher Turner is an Italian-to-English translator, editor and professional writer. He has translated many children’s books into English in his 30-year career, including the popular Geronimo Stilton books. He lives in Dorking, Surrey, outside of London. Learn more at https://www.chris-turner.net/.

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