Dulcinea in the Forbidden Forest

A funny and contemporary illustrated fairy tale about a strong heroine who saves the day, perfect for early readers.

Brave Dulcinea has known since she was small not to enter the dangerous magic forest where the witch has her castle. But her father hasn’t come home from collecting blueberries for her birthday pancakes. Did the witch cast a spell on him?

Dulcinea must brave the dark forest and sneak into the witch’s castle to steal the spell book and free him. Her father would hardly have named her after the brave Dulcinea if she couldn’t break a witch’s spell to celebrate her birthday with him!

Ole Könnecke’s funny, comic-style illustrations and humourous story turn the classic fairy tale on its head. Children aged 5 to 9, or young readers just starting out on independent reading, will love cheering on the brave and capable Dulcinea as she saves her father and gets him home just in time for pancakes.

Translated from the German edition by Shelley Tanaka.

Best Books for Kids 2021 —The Sydney Morning Herald

Other books by Ole Könnecke:

You Can Do It, Bert! Bank Street CBC Best Children’s Book of the Year

The Big Book of Words and Pictures

Sports Are Fantastic Fun

Anton Can Do Magic

“"In this German import, Dulcinea rescues her father from a spell an evil witch has cast on him. It's classic fairy-tale material: a father and a daughter he loves very much contentedly living together--but next to a forest, wherein dwells a witch. There's even a castle and a moat with monsters. But this fairy tale is updated with some attitude and a gentle poking of fun at fairy-tale tropes: 'The witch sighed. She had always found young children exhausting.' There are also some seriously funny illustrations. Dulcinea has promised her father that she will never enter the enchanted forest, but one day her father ventures in against his own advice, hoping to find blueberries for Dulcinea's blueberry-pancake birthday breakfast. When he is accosted by and turned into a tree by the witch, Dulcinea must enter the forest herself in search of him. She recognizes him at once, and readers will too, because the illustration shows a tree with big eyes, a hat, mustache, and arm branches with leaf fingers. The story's illustrations are done with a limited palette of brown and black in a minimal, forthright style that features simple and adroitly effective linework. The juxtaposition of Dulcinea's earnest, often deadpan mien and the witch's over-the-top dramatic expressions is priceless. In good fairy-tale style, Dulcinea sets off to find the witch, overcomes obstacles, uses her brain to triumph, and it all ends happily-ever-after. All humans present White. Wonderfully amusing illustrations enrich a confident, capably executed narrative."--Kirkus Reviews”

"It’s a well-told tale with an indefatigable heroine, and an interplay of words and pictures that feels as if it shares lineage with Quentin Blake and Roald Dahl. A fine winter evening read-aloud, to be enjoyed next to a warm fire with a plate of cookies. Or, you know, “biscuits.” "

"This fairy tale is updated with some attitude and a gentle poking of fun at fairy-tale tropes.  There are also some seriously funny illustrations. The juxtaposition of Dulcinea’s earnest, often deadpan mien and the witch’s over-the-top dramatic expressions is priceless."

"Könnecke offers gentle comedy throughout: “Besides, nothing bad could happen to you on your birthday, could it?” Concise chapters move the pace along as readers follow Könnecke’s inky, black-outlined art in a tale for those who love magic, fairy tales, and blueberries on their pancakes."

"With the charming trappings of an old European fairy tale and a comical dash of irreverence, this German import tells the story of a girl who must save her father from a witch’s spell. This will easily be a success with both young listeners and readers, who will be drawn to dauntless Dulcinea."

Ole Könnecke was born in 1961 and spent his childhood in Sweden. He now lives in Germany and has produced over 30 books, several of which have won international awards. Ole Könnecke was born in 1961 and spent his childhood in Sweden. He now lives in Germany and has produced over 30 books, several of which have won international awards.

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