Godfather Death - by Sally Nicholls (Hardcover)

About the Book

"When a poor fisherman chooses Death to be godfather to his son, he's certain he's made a good choice--for surely there's no man more honest than Death? At the christening, Death gives the fisherman a gift that seems at first to be the key to the family's fortune, but when greed overcomes the fisherman, he learns that nobody can truly cheat Death"--

Book Synopsis

A soul-stirring reimagined Grimm tale by award-winning author Sally Nicholls and hauntingly illustrated by Júlia Sardà that will spellbind and thrill readers of all ages.

When a poor fisherman chooses Death to be godfather to his son, he's certain he's made a good choice--for surely there's no man more honest than Death? At the christening, Death gives the fisherman a gift that seems at first to be the key to the family's fortune, but when greed overcomes the fisherman, he learns that nobody can truly cheat Death...

Review Quotes

Raves for Godfather Death

★ "[A] prickly, haunting story...Throughout, gracefully stylized vignettes and elaborate borders in autumn hues by Sardà present a distinctive concoction of humor and anxiety. It echoes suspenseful, folkloric prose that grapples with truth and human frailty." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "A lesser-known Brothers Grimm tale finds new life... Deft writing and entrancing art prove once more why the old stories are worth retelling." --Kirkus, starred review

★ "[A] deliciously haunting story...Nicholls makes some fantastic alterations, and Sardà's illustrations are masterful, adding further new details. Autumnal hues and highly detailed woodblock style vignettes and full-page spreads carry the story forward as much as the text. Sardà brilliantly evokes medieval illuminated manuscripts, nineteenth-century folklore, and a lush, immersive timelessness that echoes the inevitability of death... Readers will likely be both deeply moved by the fisherman's original pure intentions and highly satisfied by his ultimate comeuppance." --BCCB, starred review

"From the wonderfully measured text to the gorgeously retro images, this is a shivery treat." --Parade.com

About the Author

Sally Nicholls grew up in Stockton-on-Tees and after school traveled the world, working for a period at a Red Cross hospital in Japan. Sally's first novel, Ways to Live Forever, won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, and she has been shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, the Costa Children's Book Award, and the Carnegie Medal twice. She lives in Liverpool with her husband and two sons.

Júlia Sardà is an artist who has illustrated many books for children, including The Liszts by Kyo Maclear and Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein by Linda Bailey. Her work has been published around the world in many languages. She lives in Barcelona, Spain.