#911 of 1001 · January 28, 2023

Today I’m basking in the charm of Hortense and the Shadow, co-created by Natalia and Lauren O’Hara, also known as @oharasisters. The story begins in a dark wood filled with wolves and softly falling snow. A young girl named Hortense lives in a large and well-appointed manor house. She has but one complaint—she hates her shadow. It follows her around everywhere, imitating her every movement and scaring her with its eerie shapes. So vexed is she by the troublesome shadow that she slams a window on it and shuts it out of her life completely. Now, all is quiet and peaceful. However, three bandits soon show up looking for trouble. The shadow returns when Hortense needs it most, frightening the outlaws away and proving its virtue once and for all. With Natalia’s delicious phrasing (“Through the dark and wolfish woods”) and Lauren’s elegant pastel color palette, the O’Hara Sisters have fashioned an original tale replete with wildness, drama, and heart. #shadow #forest #woods #snow #dark #bandit #friend #friends #friendship #book #books #childrensbooks #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebookillustration #picturebookart #childrensbookillustration #childrensliterature #illustration #kidlit #kidsbooks #bookworm #booklover #booklovers #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #instabook #instabooks