The Eel Question

  

Age 9-12  |  Hardback  |  40 pages  |  200 x 150mm
Publication November 2018  |  ISBN 9781910862520

Bound to serve a cruel master, Nant’s curiosity never fails to get her into trouble. Her dreams of a life beyond her marshland home intensify each autumn when the silver eels return, along with her questions. Where do they come from? And where do they go?

The last in a series of six illustrated folk tales for children which explore the supernatural world, inspired by ancient folk tales and a love of nature. Be ready to feel a little bit of magic, and perhaps a few shivers down the spine.

Written by Nicola Davies and illustrated by Beth Holland.

One in a series of six super-natural themed short stories, Shadows and Light.

Books in the Shadows & Light series: 

• The White Hare
• Mother Cary's Butter Knife
• The Selkie's Mate
• Elias Martin
• Bee Boy and the Moonflowers
• The Eel Question

Nicola Davies is an award-winning author, whose many books for children include The Promise (Green Earth Book Award 2015, Greenaway Shortlist 2015), Tiny (AAAS Subaru Prize 2015), and A First Book of Nature. She graduated in zoology, studied whales and bats and then worked for the BBC Natural History Unit. Her other titles from Graffeg include Perfect and The Pond, nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Awards for 2017 and 2018 respectively.

Reviews:

‘This unusual, mythic-feeling story is one of a series of tales from Welsh publisher Graffeg that explore the deeper and sometimes darker side of our connection with the natural world. Nant finds herself at the mercy of a witch hunt, and the story explores themes of ignorance and curiosity with a deft and gentle hand. As ever, Davies’ love of the natural world is obvious, and her writing sings with a dark exuberance.’ BookTrust

‘These stories ask as many questions as they answer and highlight the strong ties that exist between nature and mankind; they beg us to seek a little deeper. Thought-provoking, haunting and swimming with the diverse beauty of the natural world.’ Mary Esther Judy, Fallen Star Stories