Exciting news: Not only has THE BOY WHO BECAME A PARROT received a gold medal in @soi128 ’s Annual… it’s also been selected for the @bolognachildrensbookfair ’s Ragazzi Award Amazing Bookshelf!
Congratulations to author @wolvertonhill and illustrator @laura.f.carlin on these wonderful recognitions. Swipe through to get a taste of this brilliant picture book, which tells the story of British nonsense poet Edward Lear—natural history painter, limerick inventor, and so much more!
#enchantedlion #enchantedlionbooks #soiannual #brawamazingbookshelf #picturebookbio
Had a blast Saturday at the Virginia Festival of the Book with @tomangleberger , @chuchuwang_art , guided by our emcee, @poppy.and.toadstool . I got to give Tom and Chuchu drawing challenges using Edward Lear-inspired nonsense prompts. And when I thought I was safe, Tom made me participate and I had to draw a moose. Not half bad for a writer!
Hey friends, I'll be at the Virginia Festival of the Book this weekend, on a panel with fellow @andreabrownlit author @tomangleberger and illustrator Chuyin Wang! We'll be doing Q&A plus some fun writing and drawing activities with kids. Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Gordon Ave. Library in C'ville!
The brilliant @laura.f.carlin and her picture book THE BOY WHO BECAME A PARROT are featured in the latest issue of @eyemagazine_ !
David Driver writes: “There has been a drift away from originality in children’s illustration: children’s picture books often seem to have a uniformity without being special… Laura Carlin, illustrator and ceramicist, is a refreshing exception.
Her new book, THE BOY WHO BECAME A PARROT, written by @wolvertonhill , is a love letter to Edward Lear, who popularised the limerick and invented the modern literary genre of nonsense.
Carlin’s illustrations follow key moments in Lear’s life with imaginative, playful grace and are totally in sympathy with his work… Author Wolverton Hill clearly worships Edward Lear and has realised a complete way of conveying his life and work.”
Thank you to David Driver for this thoughtful review, and to EYE for this wonderful feature! Swipe through for a peek at the story or head to the link in our stories for an excerpt—the full piece is available in EYE issue 109 (winter 2026).
#enchantedlion #enchantedlionbooks #illustration #art #design
The Boy Who Became a Parrot, A Foolish Biography of Edward Lear, Who Invented Nonesense is out now from Enchanted Lion Books @enchantedlion and is written by Wolverton Hill @wolvertonhill with illustrations by Laura Carlin @laura.f.carlin and this book has completely mesmerized me and I am besotted with every page of this book. I am working on creating a lesson plan to bring this book into the classroom with 3rd through 5th graders. My mother taught me to continue reading picture books to myself, as she did, long after our children had moved on to reading independently. This is one of those books that is as suited for adults as it is children with so many lessons woven into Lear’s life, art and legacy.
Thank you so much to @enchantedlion for sharing this review copy with me and for all of your books.
#theboywhobecameaparrot #jesicareviewsenchantedlionbooks #jesicareviewspicturebooks #enchantedlionbooks #enchantedlion @andreabrownlit@jenrofe
‼️‼️‼️ THE BOY WHO BECAME A PARROT is a @nytimes Best Children’s Book of 2025! ✨✨✨
Children’s books editor Jennifer Krauss writes: “In this joy of a book, Hill tells the story of Edward Lear’s life with a playfulness that echoes his subject’s own writings. Carlin’s seamless mix of illustrations and sketchy doodles, her art and Lear’s, is not only exquisite but as exuberantly clever and goofy as the nonsense king himself.”
Congratulations to author @wolvertonhill and illustrator @laura.f.carlin , and thank you so much to @jknewsroom and the @nytbooks team for this wonderful honor!
#enchantedlionbooks #enchantedlion #picturebookbio #bestkidsbooks #bestbooksof2025 #bestoftheyear #kidlit #kidlitart
Hey, The New Yorker isn’t the only pub telling you that The Boy Who Became a Parrot makes the perfect gift. Legendary Politics & Prose Bookstore features it in their recently mailed gift guide, saying “this enchanting book is the perfect union of subject, author, and illustrator” 🥰
We’re thrilled to share that THREE Enchanted Lion books have been selected for the most amazing holiday gift guides! 🎉🎁❄️💛✨
For the @newyorkermag , @winterjessica recommends:
- THE FORGOTTEN TEACHERS by @brisett_writes & @claudiabicen , deeming it “a whimsical atlas of the evolution of life on Earth”
- and THE BOY WHO BECAME A PARROT by @wolvertonhill & @laura.f.carlin , Winter’s “favorite children’s book of 2025!”
Meanwhile, @nymag ’s @thestrategist recommends #GianniRodari’s THE ADVENTURES OF CIPOLLINO, translated by Antony Shugaar & illustrated by @heytheredasha , as one of their “Carefully Selected, Unusually Special Gifts Under $50!”
Thank you so much to the writers & editors of The New Yorker and New York Magazine for shining a spotlight on our titles! We hope you’ll choose to give your loved ones the gift of reading, storytelling, and art this holiday season with one of these brilliant books 💛
#enchantedlion #enchantedlionbooks #holidaygiftideas #giftguides #givebooks #happyreading
Why did I think it was relevant to write a book about Edward Lear, the 19th century father of Nonsense? Because nonsense isn’t just fun, it’s empowering for kids (and adults, for that matter). Gift link to article in my story.
Finally, the real reason for my trip to London. To meet the incredible @laura.f.carlin and sign copies of The Boy Who Became a Parrot for @dauntbooks . What a wonderful bookstore and great staff.
