Ten-Word Tiny Tales: To Inspire and Unsettle

UK Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho presents twenty tiny tales—each one illustrated by a different artist, and each just ten words long—in a book that’s as much a work of art as an invitation to budding writers.

“Invite me in,” she says, outside my tenth-story window.

Is it possible to spin a tale using just ten words? In this magnificent compendium, author and poet Joseph Coelho proves that it is—with mini-stories of underwater worlds, demon hamsters, bears in outer space, and portals to places unknown. From charming to creepy, fantastical to mysterious, each tale is paired with an outstanding illustrator, and together words and pictures inspire creativity as young readers are prompted to continue the story. Prefaced with a note from the author and offering two writing challenges at the end, this is an ideal gift for anyone ready to unleash their imagination.

With artwork from:
Alex T. Smith * Camilla Sucre * Chuck Groenink * Daishu Ma * Dapo Adeola * Dena Seiferling * Flavia Z. Drago * Freya Hartas * Helen Stephens * Julia Sarda * Katie May Green * Karl James Mountford * Maja Kastelic * Mariachiara Di Giorgio * Nahid Kazemi * Raissa Figueroa * Reggie Brown * Shaun Tan * Thea Lu * Yas Imamura * Yoko Tanaka

Joseph Coelho, selected as UK Children’s Laureate in 2022, is an award-winning poet, playwright, and children’s book author. His first poetry collection, Werewolf Club Rules, won the CLPE Poetry Award in 2015. His picture books include If All the World Were . . . , illustrated by Allison Colpoys, and Luna Loves Library Day, illustrated by Fiona Lumbers. He is also the author of the Fairy Tales Gone Bad trilogy, illustrated by Freya Hartas. Originally from London, Joseph Coelho now lives in Folkestone, England. Follow him on Twitter @Poetryjoe and on Instagram @josephcoelhoauthor.