Books for Fans of Charlie Mackesy

In the tradition of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse comes a gorgeously illustrated fable about a young child’s journey into the world beyond the shadow of home, a magical landscape where he discovers the secrets of sharing, connection, and finding peace with the people we love. Infused with the author’s signature wit and imagination, in collaboration with visionary artist Sabina Hahn, it’s a tale for readers of all ages — to be read aloud or read alone.

Written during World War II, The Little Prince tells of the friendship between the narrator, an aviator stranded in the Sahara desert, and a mysterious boy he encounters there. Ruler of a tiny asteroid of which he is the only inhabitant, the Little Prince chats disarmingly about his curious adventures in space and since arriving on earth. Children love it for its deadpan fantasy, for its sense of baffled amusement at the grown-up world, and for the author’s whimsical watercolor illustrations, which are an integral part of the book.

The world moves fast, but that doesn’t mean we have to. This bestselling mindfulness guide by Haemin Sunim (which means “spontaneous wisdom”), a renowned Buddhist meditation teacher, illuminates a path to inner peace and balance amid the overwhelming demands of everyday life. By offering guideposts to wellbeing and happiness in eight areas — including relationships, love, and spirituality — Haemin Sunim emphasizes the importance of forging a deeper connection with others and being compassionate and forgiving toward ourselves.

Millions of people have fallen in love with Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face — who shows us that kindness brings us together no matter how far apart we are. Read the book that inspired the Choose Kind movement, a major motion picture, and the critically acclaimed graphic novel White Bird.

The original Aesop’s Fables, introduced by award-winning author Marcus Sedgwick. Over two hundred familiar tales from “Look Before You Leap” and “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” to much less familiar tales, each with its own sharply pointed moral.

The classic tale of an orphan girl’s journey from loneliness to belonging, all through the magic of a neglected garden brought back to life. A classic of children’s literature, beloved for over a century, this is one of the great stories of the human need for love, and the solace to be found in nature.

In post-Arthurian Britain, the wars that once raged between the Saxons and the Britons have finally ceased. Axl and Beatrice, an elderly British couple, set off to visit their son, whom they haven’t seen in years. And, because a strange mist has caused mass amnesia throughout the land, they can scarcely remember anything about him. As they are joined on their journey by a Saxon warrior, his orphan charge, and an illustrious knight, Axl and Beatrice slowly begin to remember the dark and troubled past they all share. By turns savage, suspenseful, and intensely moving, The Buried Giant is a luminous meditation on the act of forgetting and the power of memory.

There was once a man who believed he owned everything and set out to survey what was his. “You are mine,” Fausto said to the flower, the sheep, and the mountain, and they all bowed before him. But they were not enough for Fausto, so he conquered a boat and set out to sea … Combining bold art and powerful prose, and working in traditional lithographic printmaking techniques for the first time, world-renowned talent Oliver Jeffers has created a poignant modern-day fable to touch the hearts of adults and children alike.

A knight, fearing he may not return from battle, writes a letter to his children in an attempt to leave a record of all he knows. In a series of ruminations on solitude, humility, forgiveness, honesty, courage, grace, pride, and patience, he draws on the ancient teachings of Eastern and Western philosophy, and on the great spiritual and political writings of our time. His intent: To give his children a compass for a journey they will have to make alone, a short guide to what gives life meaning and beauty.