Amaryllis

Amaryllis

This is a very short illustrated book for children. Amaryllis is a flower native to South Africa that can grow in warm climates such as southern Spain, although probably not in the UK. She is also a literary character originating from Greek mythology who is later represented in classical pastoral poetry. The book tells the story of an Amaryllis bulb who sets out on a life-changing journey at the end of summer to find the next chapter of her life and new friends. Along the way she encounters doubts, excitement and fulfilment, and the text touches on the subjects of the changing of the seasons, and the values of growth and companionship. The story is told in a few lines on each page with illustrations that accompany and add to the text. Anna Aparicio Català's award-winning artwork is worth noting as her illustrations are unusually evocative and are an important part of the appeal of the book.

The language is simple, but quite poetic and very evocative. Germán Machado is originally from Uruguay, which also adds an element to the original Spanish… The language is unassuming but deliberate…

Germán Machado is a successful poet and author of books for children and for adults, and is popular in the Spanish market. In a high-quality English translation, children would find this particular book very appealing for its story and illustrations and the aesthetic value of the language... It has an originality and beauty that gives it the feel of a book that becomes a favourite and holds its appeal as readers grow up.

From the reader's report by Suky Taylor.