Ahmed and the Feather Girl

by Ray, Jane

• ISBN13: 9781845079888
• ISBN10: 1845079884
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-10-01
• Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books

Summary

Ahmed is a poor orphan boy who lives with a travelling circus, working for cruel Madame Saleem, the circus-owner. But his life is changed when he finds a beautiful egg in the forest, and brings it back to the circus. From the egg hatches a child, a little girl called Aurelia, a child who, as she grows, sprouts soft feathers that turn into wings. But Madame Saleem keeps Aurelia in a cage, to be her top attraction at the circus, and never lets her out. Ahmed knows he must free Aurelia the Feather Girl from her cruel cage or she will die. One night he creeps into Madame Saleem's caravan, takes the key to Aurelia's cage and lets her fly free. Now Ahmed's life becomes even harder, as the circus-owner takes revenge for losing her star attraction. But one night Aurelia comes to him in a dream and brings him a feather... and Ahmed begins to hope again. Dreams and memories are the key in this beautiful and fantastic tale of magic, enchantment and freedom from a master storyteller and illustrator of children's books.

Author Biography

Jane Ray's distinctive style has established her as a highly successful artist both for her paintings and her wrapping paper and cards. Increasingly well known as an illustrator, her picture books have attracted enormous attention around the world. The illustrator of Ahmed and the Feather Girl, she lives in London.

Excerpts

One morning, Ahmed heard a cracking sound. The egg was hatching! he watched in amazement as the egg opened to reveal a beautiful child. She uncurled her limbs, opened her big dark eyes and smiled straight at Ahmed. The circus people named the little girl Aurelia.