The bridges

Sophia lost her teddy bear on the beach. No one saw it except the Sea... As we leaf through the book, we follow the little bear’s adventures in the water, in the sea, as she tries in her own way to find Sophia and return her favourite toy to her. And time passes. The illustrations in the story are particularly interesting: Through an innovative initiative called Rijksstudio, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has made 125,000 images from its collection available for anyone to use and edit freely. Tom Percival was captivated by the idea of creating something new by combining his own illustrations with elements from classic paintings, and so he drew inspiration for the world of this book from works by Willem Roelofs, Aelbert Cuyp, Vincent van Gogh, Maurits van der Valk and Hendrik Willem Mesdag.

When Isabel is forced to leave her home, filled with happy memories, and move with her family to the outskirts of town, she begins to feel ‘invisible’. So, she decides to help the people around her to achieve perhaps the most difficult thing of all… to make the difference that will change everything.

Rowan loves the river. Some days it is quiet and calm, whilst on others it is lively and playful. There are times, however, when it is wild and angry. The coming winter will be a difficult one for Rowan; the river is freezing over – just like he is. Can he find a way to release his frozen emotions and let the river flow freely once more? An original book that will help children understand the concept of ever-changing emotions, from the award-winning author of *The Sea Saw* (Ikaros, 2019) and *The Invisible* (Ikaros, 2021).

Award-winning creators Tom Percival and Richard Jones collaborate for the first time, gifting us an exceptional book of courage with the most powerful messages… Once upon a time, there was a little bird who had a blue speck on one of her feathers. She loved to fly in the sky, where everything was quiet and peaceful – far from the forest, where a pandemonium of voices rose into the air… leaving little room for her little voice to be heard. But one day is enough to change the lives of all the animals in the forest, showing us that even the quietest voices can be heard.

Mia feels lonely, so lonely that it is as if she lives on a distant, tiny island. Her parents are constantly busy and rarely have time to spare to play with her. But one day, they give Mia a book – the first she has ever been able to call her own. As Mia reads the book, bridges are built and her island fills with colour and life. And the more Mia reads, the stronger the bridges become, opening up a world of connection and hope… Because a book can take you anywhere…

Tom Percival’s new book is a sweet story that encourages us to see the beauty of the world around us and discover the real magic in our everyday lives. The miracle is there, as long as we are willing to discover it! Daniel has a terrible hangover and the day looks set to be a right old mess. But as things slowly start to change, Daniel realises that a few moments of joy and everyday magic are enough to brighten even the darkest of days. Another tender story from Tom Percival, a much-loved author and illustrator, who sensitively addresses issues relevant to young children. ‘The Miracle is about the search for joy and all those moments that brighten our dark days. Even when everything seems to be going wrong, a miracle is always close by.’ ―Tom Percival