The Magic Callaloo

A magic callaloo plant grows in the middle of a village, whose leaves can grant wishes if they are eaten. After an evil, greedy man eats all but one of the leaves of the magical plant, using all the wishes for himself, it means that the villagers must rely on each other more rather than the magical plant to grant wishes. Yet, for a couple in the village – Mister and Missis – who desperately want a baby, the last leaf of the magic callaloo plant is their only chance. 

When Missis finds and eats the last leaf of the callaloo, she becomes pregnant and is gifted with a lovely little girl called Lou with beautiful curly hair. Yet, when Lou is stolen away by the wicked man who ate all the callaloo leaves and enslaved by him, she faces a lifetime of servitude and imprisonment.  

Finally, a wise old woman appears and offers to braid Lou’s beautiful curly hair, and, in doing so, provides her with a map back to her family. 

In a wonderful allegorical story highlighting a crucial part of Black history, superstar children’s author Trish Cooke tells a tale inspired by the real stories of enslaved Africans who made patterns in their cornrowed hair, using them as maps to escape their enslavers. Sophie Bass’ vibrant illustrations fill the pages with sunlight, nature and mystery, complementing Cooke’s allegory with beauty and magic. Absolutely gorgeous.