The Notted Island

— A Foreword Editorial Top 10 Favorite Title Reviewed in 2025 —

“Child, who trained as an illustrator, originally envisaged the story as a graphic novel. But she turns out to be a superb storyteller, with her beautifully imagined fantasy landscape brought to life in lyrical prose…”
— The Telegraph

“A gorgeous book. Strange and beautiful and filled with the magic of a classic, this is something very special indeed.”
—Katya Balen, Author of October, October

“Katherine Child is a unique new talent, and The Notted Island is an extraordinary debut: reading it feels like stumbling over a forgotten children’s classic in the back room of a dusty antique bookstore, full of treasures, and reading agog at the wonders inside. Strange, delirious, gorgeously illustrated, and with a captivatingly voice, its part Diana Wynne Jones, part James Thurber, and utterly distinctive.”
—Ross Montgomery, I Am Rebel

“A spunky girl saves her town’s night sky in Katherine Child’s wonder-filled fantasy novel The Notted Island. […] Tisky exudes curiosity and passion. She navigates the bumps of childhood with earnestness. From pretending to be an owl to absconding with the salesman’s paperwork, she is a constant source of amusement. Her deep love for her island and sky propels the story toward success.”
— Foreword STARRED Review

“Child’s delightfully quirky fable celebrates imagination, determination, and the magic of doing things the hard—and heartfelt—way. […] Child’s prose is vivid and lyrical, perfectly matched by pencil illustrations that grow in detail and ambition as the story unfolds. Together, they build a world that feels both ancient and brand new. Playful, poetic, and just a little bit wild, this pint-sized epic trusts readers to embrace mystery and fight for magic.”
— Booklist Review

“The Notted Island reads like a true labour of love. Each character, creature and place is densely described in word and image. The illustrations compliment the text, they build in ambition and complexity as the story goes on, the makers hand evident in every delicate mark. The two work together to form a complete whole, woven as the night sky in the story, with artful and joyous craft. It is a wonderful celebration of the hand-made and the process of creation.”
— Alexis Deacon, Children’s Author + Illustrator

“Child’s story is enthralling, exciting, intriguing and slightly sideways from anything you’d expect. It trusts the reader to not question the mysteries it offers up, believing in the world as it unfolds. It feels a small myth, an epic miniature, a glorious pocket-sized gem of a whole new world. I urge everyone to join Tisky on the adventure she doesn’t know she’s making – help her save her island and bring a little night and colour into her fellow islander’s lives.”
— A.F. Harrold, Children’s Author

“In this U.K. import, a girl must band together with river sprites, a time-telling shadow, and a dog to save her island’s night sky. […] With fun wordplay and the personification of natural phenomena as beings and tasks, this parable strikes an endearingly quirky, goodhearted tone as it underscores the importance of downtime and magical thinking in the face of ever-increasing demands for efficiency. Child’s frequent, detailed illustrations enhance the story with their depictions of Tisky’s unique world and compatriots. […] A fun treatise on the necessity of whimsy.”
— Kirkus Review

“A deeply original debut”
— The Bookseller