The Enchanted Chest by Jean-Francois Chabas and David Sala ~ A #KidLit Review

by MK French

Today I have a book that you can enjoy with your child this summer.
Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

May 2018; Lion Forge; 978-1941302545
ebook, print (28 pages); fairy tales 

When an ornate chest is found by a fisherman, a greedy emperor looking for more treasure wants to open it. However, no one is able to, and only the Lynx with her vision can satisfy his curiosity.

Greed is outright stated to be one of the worst qualities the emperor possesses, leading to over taxation and abuses in his staff. He doesn't even marry or have children because of the eventual expense for their care, and he blames others for things he can't control. It progresses in much this way until the end of the book, when the Lynx's answer for the Emperor is the only thing that can satisfy him, even if he still can't open the box.

There is a page of text opposite David Sala's artwork. It's short at only 28 pages (including the artwork) so it makes for a very quick read. The colors are vivid and eye-catching, and it looks like the papercraft of picture books I had when I was younger. Whether the moral of this fable is really appropriate or not can be left to interpretation, and that might spark some really interesting conversations with children or adults.

Buy The Enchanted Chest at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and golden retriever. 

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