The Lizard

“This memorable fable about the arrival of a giant, fork-tongued but seemingly harmless lizard artfully combines the mythmaking sensibilities of the Portuguese Nobel laureate Saramago and the Brazilian artist Borges. The mysterious lizard shows up in an ordinary town, and ‘panic filled the air.’ As forces gather to attack it, the creature is transformed into a rose, possibly by fairies. The winsome language and striking woodcut art in bold colors and lots of black capture the ominous rush to judgment and the sweet possibility of wonderment.” —Maria Russo, New York Times Book Review

“Borges contributes bold, rustic woodcuts that leave plenty of room for symbolic interpretations. … A pensive, allegorical fairy tale for readers ready to sit with perplexity.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Ably translated by the Caistors, this surreal fable by Nobel Prize–winner Saramago imagines a monstrously outsize military response to the appearance of a lizard. … the fable serves as a reminder that in toxic political situations, nothing—not even a fairy lizard—is safe. Ages 6–9.” —Publishers Weekly