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Story Rug

Brief Description
From two-time Caldecott Medallist Sophie Blackall and artist Phoebe Wahl comes a luminous book that braids together the joy of storytelling with the satisfaction of learning a new craft. Class 203 is braiding. In fact, they are in a braiding craze. They started with hair and... Read More
Format: Hardback
$2499
Elsewhere:
$2999
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Releases 28th July 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "Story Rug" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
From two-time Caldecott Medallist Sophie Blackall and artist Phoebe Wahl comes a luminous book that braids together the joy of storytelling with the satisfaction of learning a new craft.

Class 203 is braiding. In fact, they are in a braiding craze. They started with hair and shoelaces, and now they have brought rags from home. Their braid gets longer and longer until one idea transforms it into an extraordinary surprise for their teacher.

Here is the story of a rag rug, woven through with the histories of the scraps used to create it, and the tales told as it was being made. The result is a special handmade place where the whole class can gather, ready for more stories.

This charming celebration of storytelling is intertwined with an easy-to-learn and impressive craft project, including instructions, and will have readers reaching for scraps to make their own rag rug.

PRAISE FOR SOPHIE BLACKALL:

'A tender and quietly clever tale about friendship, differences, and really seeing someone else' GOOD READING MAGAZINE on If We Were Dogs

'Full of imagination and gentle humour . . . The delightful illustrations provide outstanding detail and invite the reader to pore over the images' CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA on If I Was a Horse

'Charming and whimsical visual surprises are found throughout the impeccably designed pages . . . An exquisite equine fantasy, this encourages imaginations to giddyup and run wild and free' BOOKLIST on If I Was a Horse

'Absolutely gorgeous and brilliant fun' READINGS on If I Was a Horse

'A tender, layered masterpiece that itself deserves to be passed along for generations' NEW YORK TIMES on Farmhouse

'Gloriously detailed . . . One of the most evocative and beautiful picture books I've had the pleasure of reading' BETTER READING on Farmhouse

'A lyrical love letter to the past . . . The illustrations feel like a patchwork quilt - with pieces of history and experience stitched together to make a beautiful and complete whole . . . Every page can be revisited over and over again' CHILDREN'S BOOK COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA on Farmhouse

'Painted with the featherlight touch that distinguishes Caldecott Medallist Blackall's work, this graceful account of a lighthouse keeper's life celebrates a lost era . . . A jewel of a creation' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY on Hello Lighthouse

'I will be surprised if a more exquisite picture book will be published this year . . . Children will be fascinated' NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW on Hello Lighthouse

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780734424464

Publisher: Hachette Australia

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 28 July 2026

Country: Australia

Imprint: Lothian Children's Books

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Phoebe Wahl

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Weight: 300g

Pages: 40

About the Author

Sophie Blackall (Author)

Sophie Blackall is the bestselling and two-time Caldecott Medal-winning artist behind Finding Winnie, Hello Lighthouse, Farmhouse, If I Was a Horse and If We Were Dogs. Sophie has illustrated more than fifty books, and her work has been shortlisted for the CBCA Picture Book of the Year and the ABIA Children's Picture Book of the Year. If I Was a Horse was also the winner of the BookPeople Children's Book of the Year Award. Sophie was born and raised in Australia, and now lives in Brooklyn with her family. In 2022, Sophie was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to children's literature.

Phoebe Wahl (Illustrator)

Phoebe Wahl is an award-winning illustrator and surface designer. She graduated from Rhode Island School of Design and has published celebrated picture books, including Little Witch Hazel and Sonya's Chickens. She lives with her family in Bellingham, Washington, where her children play on a rag rug braided by their great-grandmother. She invites you to visit her on Instagram @phoebewahl.

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