Description: Storyteller Andy Jones and illustrator Darka Erdelji have joined forces again to produce the funny and epic, Jack, the King of Ashes. This time Jack, the "King of Ashes," spends all his time hove off in the coal box, until one day he shakes off his ashes and sets out on an adventure that includes sneaky robbers, a "famous missing princess with reward attached," an always-surprising canine sidekick, a royal wedding, a lovelorn rooster-puppet, a conniving ship's captain, corpses, curses, kisses, a coat and a whole lot more! Steeped in Newfoundland folk tradition, Jack, the King of Ashes shows Jones at the top of his form. His quirky and delightful humour is unstoppable. Erdelji's illustrations offer a wonderful, witty counterpoint to the story, enriching and embellishing it.
Review Quotes: Praise for Jones and Erdelji's previous collaborations:
"This irreverent, buoyant version of the nativity story, as experienced by the legendary, down-to-earth figure of Jack, has all the charm of a good tale told by a master storyteller.... Captivating and hilarious, with a transcendent story at its centre, Jack and the Manger is an outstanding children's book."--2012 Bruneau Family Children's/Young Adult Literature Award Jury "Jones's retelling effectively captures the rhythms of oral storytelling and the cadences of Newfoundland dialect. Illustrator Darka Erdelji's illustrations are a fine match. Enchanting, magical, and very skillful, they blend rich, evocative blues, greens, and reds, delicate line drawings in black and white, and rough, folk-art representations of the characters. All in all, a wonderful, rollicking tale."
--Quill & Quire (starred review) for The Queen of Paradise's Garden