The Most Famous Rhinoceros

A moving and beautiful story inspired by a work of art, Albert Durer's celebrated woodcut print of the rhinoceros sent from India to Portugal in 1515.

Princess Beatrix is excited to meet the amazing one-horned creature that has been sent as a gift to her father, the King of Portugal. Could it be a unicorn? But the new animal is not a unicorn – it’s a rhinoceros called Genda, who has travelled all the way from India, and Beatrix immediately loves him. She becomes Genda’s friend and protector, and is determined to persuade her father the King that this wild creature should be returned to his jungle home. This poignant story is inspired by the real rhinoceros depicted in 1515 by Albrecht Durer in his world-famous woodcut, which can still be seen today.

"In The Most Famous Rhinoceros, Dianne Hofmeyr tells an unusual and potentially challenging story with confidence, sensitivity and style. Vividly evocative, with enough description to bring a vanished world to life without overwhelming young audiences, this book reads well aloud and will prompt thoughtful discussion across a wide age range... with its sumptuously decorated fabrics, rich colour palette and interest in surface pattern and design, Simona Mulazzani’s artwork conjures a flavour of the period."

"Simona Mulazzani’s ornate illustrations beautifully capture the period and emotions of the story. The beautiful hardback story is inspired by Albrecht Dürer’s woodcut print of a rhinoceros sent from India to Portugal in 1515."

Dianne Hofmeyr grew up on the tip of southern Africa. Her acclaimed picture books are translated into more than 18 languages and include The Magic Bojabi Tree (illustrated by Piet Grobler), nominated for the Kate Greenaway Award (2014), Zeraffa Giraffa (illustrated by Jane Ray) which is on the Sunday Times' Top 100 Children's Classics list, and My Daddy is a Silly Monkey (with Carol Thompson) and Tiger Walk (with Jesse Hodgson), both published by Otter-Barry Books and nominated for the Kate Greenaway Award in 2017 and 2019 respectively. Fiddle Dee Dee!, illustrated by Piet Grobler, was published by Otter-Barry Books in 2019. Dianne lives in London.

Simona Mulazzani is one of Italy's leading children's book illustrators, winner of the Society of Illustrators silver medal in 2005 and 2013, of the Italian Andersen Prize in 2008, and of the Emanuele Luzzati illustration prize in 2010. Born in Milan, where she gained a degree in art, she has illustrated over 90 books since 1994. She lives in Pesaro, Italy.

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