The Invisible Story
Jaime Gamboa author Daniel Hahn translator Wen Hsu Chen illustrator
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Lantana Publishing
Published:25th Apr '24
£12.99
Available for immediate dispatch.
An empowering story about sight-loss and reading in braille.
The world is full of stories. Some are as long as lizards, others so short that they never even make it to The End. But the invisible story is unlike any other story because no one has ever read it! A beautifully inclusive tale about sight-loss in which we learn that not all stories are meant to be read with the eyes.The world is full of stories. Some are as long as lizards, others so short that they never even make it to The End. But the invisible story is unlike any other story because no one has ever read it! It lives hidden in the darkest corner of the library, far from where the famous tales, written in gold letters, shine. One day, a blind reader approaches the story’s trembling pages. This reader is unlike any reader the invisible story has ever encountered. And when she runs her fingertips over the book’s white pages, it is astonished by what she finds. A beautifully inclusive tale about sight-loss in which we learn that not all stories are meant to be read with the eyes.
“The Invisible Story is a quiet campaigning story. It gently raises young readers’ awareness to a visually-impaired person’s perspective, and to the braille system, which can act as a visually-impaired person’s access to a colourful world of reading and imagination, as represented in Wen Hsu Chen’s watercolour paper cuttings. It is great to know Lantana Publishing has collaborated with the Royal National Institute for the Blind and that accessible formats will be available.” - World Kid Lit
“I'm BLOWN AWAY by The Invisible Story! Reading this, we were drawn into a world where mysteries unfurled like delicate petals. This important book teaches about Braille, a language new to my daughters, and reveals the importance of inclusivity and the hidden treasures of untold tales. The book's profound message resonated deeply, showing us that some narratives are felt instead of read.” - Read With A Rescue
“Chen’s cut-paper illustrations are striking. Most objects and people, the blind girl included, are the white of the page, which evokes a sense of invisibility, while jewel-toned creatures suggest enticing adventures as they swirl from open books.” - Kirkus Reviews
It’s probably much too early in 2024 to start talking about which picture book will be my favourite of the year but I’m willing to put a large bet on the likelihood that The Invisible Story by Jaime Gamboa, illustrated by Wen Hsu Chen will be somewhere near the top of that list. This is an absolute cracker! – Terry Potter, The L:etterpress Project
This is a memorable picture book with a timeless quality, beautifully translated from Spanish by Daniel Hahn. Through its gentle lyrical story, it highlights the power of braille, reminding us that not all books are intended to be read with eyes. There's also a lovely universal message about the power of a great story – the best books can be re-read time and time again, meaning they essentially never end. Wen Hsu Chen's distinctive illustrations feature a highly effective cut-out paper technique in which little splashes of watercolour gradually seep out of the white folds to flood the page as the 'hidden' story emerges from the lonely book.”- BookTrust
- Nominated for Carnegie Medal for Illustration 2025 (UK)
ISBN: 9781915244765
Dimensions: 230mm x 250mm x 7mm
Weight: 367g
32 pages