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The Magic Paintbrush

Book Synopsis

With her magic paintbrush, Shen can paint steaming pots full of fish and oysters to feed the hungry people in her village, but when the evil emperor hears of her gift he commands Shen to paint gold for him instead. She is determined to keep her promise to paint only for the poor, but how can she match the emperor’s mighty power?

In The Magic Paintbrush, Julia Donaldson’s brilliant verse combines with beautiful illustrations from Joel Stewart, creator of The Adventures Abney and Teal , to bring vibrant life to a traditional tale of how a little girl’s integrity can withstand the corruption of power and greed.

This edition features a stunning redesigned cover, making it a must-have addition to the bookshelves of all Donaldson fans – big and small!

Our Review Panel says...

A traditional Chinese tale from the popular author Julia Donaldson. The Magic Paintbrush is the story of a girl called Shen who uses her magic paintbrush to paint pots of fish and oysters to feed the hungry villagers. But when the evil emperor commands her to paint gold for him, can she keep her integrity and stick to her promise to use her paintbrush to help the poor? This exciting picture book tells a magical Chinese story that has the potential to be used across the whole primary age range.

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The Magic Paintbrush

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