Corinne Demas’s Once There Was is a simple, modern fable about dreaming of being something else, transformations, and the interconnectedness of all things, featuring whimsical full-color illustrations by Gemma Capdevila.
In this magical, modern fairy tale, a girl dreams she is a princess. A princess dreams she is a horse. A horse dreams she is a tree, a tree a mountain, a mountain a moon, a moon a sea, a sea a girl.
This contemplative story plays on timely themes of aspiration and self-reflection but leaves room for interpretation, giving the book the potential to become a timeless classic.
Corinne Demas is the author of collections of short stories, novels, a memoir, poetry, plays, and numerous books for children, including The Perfect Tree, published by Cameron Kids. She lives with her family in western Massachusetts.
Gemma Capdevila is a fine artist and illustrator. Her magical work is inspired by the natural world, the ocean, and the forest. She lives in Barcelona.
“Spare, descriptive text is accompanied by rich, strikingly detailed watercolorlike illustrations. A magical tale that comes full circle, urging readers to dream big.”—Kirkus Reviews
"The graceful blend of text and image offers readers a mind-expanding escape."—Publishers Weekly
