Books with author Jessica Souhami

Osebo the leopard has a fine drum, a huge drum, a "magnificent" drum. All the animals covet Osebo's drum, but he won't let anyone else have it, not even Nyame, the Sky-God. So, Nyame offers a big reward to the animal that brings him the drum. All try - the monkey, the elephant, even the python - and all fail. Can a very small tortoise succeed in outwitting the boastful leopard? Jessica Souhami's vibrant collage illustrations, full of movement and humor, add additional appeal to this delightful story. The short, rhythmic text is perfect for reading aloud.

Here is a lively retelling of the traditional rhyme packed with surprises. Lift-up flaps on each spread reveal spooky creatures peeping through windows and out of cupboards, and the story reaches a climax on the last spread, as a great white ghost pops out! In the dark, dark wood, There was a dark, dark house, HOO-HOO-HOO! HAA-HAA-HAA! A truly interactive book that children will return to time and again.

The three thousand year-old tale of Rama, who rescues his wife, Sita, from the Demon King, is said to confer a blessing on all who hear it.In Rama and the Demon King, this glorious Hindu myth is retold, so that children of all cultures can enjoy the thrilling story.The vibrant illustrations, based on the ancient tradition of shadow-puppetry, convey all the exuberance of a tale which, although centuries old is still very much alive.

A hilarious Irish folktale with a terrific female heroine."Long ago, there lived a giant called Cuhullin. My, but he was big and fierce and strong.And what made him so strong?He had a magic finger. And believe it or not,all his strength was in that little finger.Now Cuhullin had fought all the other giants,and squashed them flat. Well, all but one, and that was Finn McCool."But Finn doesn't want to fight. Finn is SCARED.When he sucks his magic thumb, Finn can see Cuhullin coming to get him. So he runs straight home to his wife, Oona.Oona isn't scared, not one bit. She just laughs . . . Will Cuhullin find Finn McCool and SQUASH HIM FLAT?Or will Oona save the day?

An old woman sets off through the forest to visit her granddaughter, when “Boo!” — one by one, out jump a hungry fox, a hungry bear and a hungry tiger. The old woman escapes by telling them she’ll taste even better on the way back, once she’s eaten her dinner. But later on, at her granddaughter’s, she wonders what to do…Jessica Souhami uses the brilliant colours of India to illustrate her vibrant retelling of a traditional story known all over Southern Asia.

Banished by his jealous stepmother, the good and brave Prince Rama has lived in the forest for 14 years, along with his beautiful wife Sita and his loyal brother Lakshaman. Rama has triumphed over the demons that dwell there and the three live a simple, peaceful life among the forest animals. But it is not to last, for the ten-headed King of the Demons vows to take revenge. Eye-catching illustrations, based on the Indian tradition of shadow-puppetry, convey the exuberance of a millennia-old tale that is still very much alive today.

When a poor woodcutter named John rescues an elf in distress, the elf rewards him with three magic wishes. Later, John and his wife Martha sit dreaming of all the lovely things they could ask for. But as the hours pass and John begins to get hungry, a chance remark begets not riches but a string of sizzling, succulent sausages! The argument this causes between the couple leads to a very silly situation, which only their last remaining wish can put right. Jessica Souhami’s gorgeous cut-paper collages and short, rhythmic text make this a perfect book for reading aloud.

Foxy has a very large sack with just one bee in it. But on his travels he meets a woman with a nice fat rooster. . . "Whatever you do, don't look in the sack!" says Foxy. But the woman does, of course, and when the bee escapes Foxy takes the rooster in exchange! He repeats the trick to acquire a lovely fat pig, and finally. . . a little boy! But the last woman Foxy meets is as clever as he is. She sets the little boy free and substitutes a large fierce dog in the sack - who chases bad Foxy away, never to be seen again.