(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt. It's Paris in the early 1400s, and young Marguerite must help her father, a famous manuscript illuminator whose eyesight is failing, complete a commissioned book on time. Readers won't even notice that the narrative, which tracks Marguerite as she collects art supplies, is a cleverly concealed art lesson. The gilded illustrations, which extend onto gatefold pages, would do a real manuscript illuminator proud. Glos.

Reviewer: Nell Beram