The Invisible Kingdom

By Rob Ryan • Illustrated by Rob Ryan

$ 19.95

“Ryan… offers a fanciful modern fairy tale illustrated with a whole sheaf of his intricately detailed cut-paper silhouettes, including a poster on the back of the dust jacket. The hero, a young prince, lives in a palace in the middle of the city, trapped by protocol. … It’s the first of three volumes, and readers will long for the next book.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Not yet published

About this book

Gorgeous words and stunning illustrations combine in a book for anyone aged 8-80, by internationally renowned paper-cut artist.

This is a story about a prince. He lived in a palace that seemed to have been specially designed to make someone who already felt small feel even smaller. He rarely saw his parents, who were always busy being the King and Queen; and, unlike other children, the Prince never spent time dreaming about what he would be when he grew up because he knew that when his father died, he would become King. It was his destiny. The only person who treated the Prince like a normal child was the Bootman. Understanding that everyone needs something to call their own, the Bootman gave the Prince a pen with invisible ink and a special flashlight that allowed him to create a world that only he could see. One night, as the Prince was drawing on the curtains that surrounded his bed, he noticed a small hole and beyond that a trapdoor, which led to the attic. And in the attic he found a window and a way to sneak out of the palace and experience the real world.

The Invisible Kingdom is an exquisite book about a small boy, a big imagination, and learning to be your own person.

Brand: Rob Ryan

About the author

Rob Ryan studied Fine Art at Trent Polytechnic before going on to an MA in Printmaking at the Royal College of Art. After several years as a painter, he began creating paper-cuts and screen prints, which led to collaborations with Paul Smith, Liberty, London’s Fortnum and Mason and many others.

He has exhibited in New York, London, and Japan and has a store, Ryantown, in London. He is the author of This Is for You and A Sky Full of Kindness and illustrated The Giftfor Carol Ann Duffy. The Invincible Kingdom is the third book in a trilogy.

Reviews

“Visually stunning… Ryan’s hand-drawn, screenprinted, and cut-paper illustrations, filled with intricate patterns, detailed cityscapes, and numerous black silhouettes, are placed on watercolor backgrounds ranging from bright yellow to dark gray hues… VERDICT An intriguing fantasy that pulls readers right into the story with its enchanting plot and eye-catching artwork.” — School Library Journal