Written by Trish Cooke, Illustrated by Sophie Bass
This book is a retelling of Rapunzel set in an Afro-Caribbean land. The Magic Callaloo is a tree that grants wishes, until it’s stolen by a greedy old man. A couple wants a child so badly that they battle dragons and snakes to find the last leaf of the magic Callaloo. They have a daughter with amazing, beautiful hair, who is eventually captured by the greedy old man. The illustrations are super colorful and beautiful. The modern twist on Rapunzel is engaging, but the story is really long. It might not work great as a read aloud; for some groups, it would just be hard to keep their attention because it’s a bit wordy. It’s such a beautiful book with a cool story; it could work well as part of a fairy tale lesson, and for older kids that still love picture books.
Reviewed by Lana Gukeisen, Librarian, Farnsworth Elementary School
Review shared in March 2025
Rating: ★★★★✩ (4 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 2-5
The Magic Callaloo
Written by Trish Cooke, Illustrated by Sophie Bass
Candlewick Press
32 pages
Release Date: September 3, 2024
ISBN: 9781536235579
A review copy was provided by the publisher.
