The Queen in the Cave

Praise

Three sisters sneak out for a nighttime adventure in Sardà’s fantastical picture book, which taps into the wonderous imagination of childhood and hints at what lies beyond. . . . Sardà unleashes a phantasmagoric blend of beauty and eeriness in her intricate, antique-hued illustrations. . . supremely exciting. . . . An unforgettable story that will leave readers with their eyes wide open.
—Booklist (starred review)

The “wonders [are] infinite” in this surreal early reader. . . . The eye-catching illustrations feature colorful geometric objects, bright and patterned creatures, and big-eyed children whose movements are stiff, goofy, and evocative as they dare to “go where no one has ever gone before!”
—Foreword Reviews

In imagery reminiscent of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Sardà poignantly evokes the moment an eldest sister pursues a way her sisters can’t go, a moment of growth and change that’s reflected in the flamboyant, stylish disorientation of her illustrations. Appropriately, the book brings picture book and short story together; it’s a work on the cusp, as if its very mode connotes transition.
—The Horn Book

A beautifully illustrated longform picture book that explores the unease and bravery that comes with growing up.
—School Library Connection

Mystical and sumptuously illustrated. . .a strange and beautiful story for children ages 5-9.
—The Wall Street Journal