Madame Pamplemousse and the Enchanted Sweet Shop

Rupert Kingfisher's first book, Madame Pamplemousse and the Incredible Edibles, was highly acclaimed. His favourite authors as a child were Roald Dahl, Susan Cooper and Ursula le Guin. He also loved American horror comics and French cartoon books such as Asterix and Tintin. It was on a family holiday to Paris that he visited a bookshop dedicated to books such as Tintin - and also ate anchovies for the first time, on a pizza from a street vendor. He says that both experiences were equally life-changing.

Rupert studied Philosophy at Bristol University and Play Writing at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Rupert has had plays performed in Dublin, Edinburgh, London and on BBC Radio 4. He grew up in Oxfordshire and now lives in Brentford, Middlesex.

It's winter in Paris and Madeleine is having problems at school. A new girl, Mirabelle, is bullying her. Then Madeleine is befriended by Madame Bonbon, who runs an alluring-looking sweet shop. The sweets Madame Bonbon gives Madeleine have the most bewitching effect, at first making her feel much stronger and able to confront Mirabelle. However, soon they start drawing her into a strange, enchanted world from which she cannot escape. Will Madame Pamplemousse and Camembert be able to rescue Madeleine?

Praise for Madame Pamplemousse and Her Incredible Edibles:

'Enchanting debut . . . witty, warm-hearted and as delectable as one of the dishes it describes, this is as much a hymn to the culinary arts as to the magic of kindness, and is recommended for 6-9s'

Praise for Madame Pamplemousse and the Enchanted Sweet Shop:

'A charming, magical and sweet-filled adventure'

'I love this book because it is extremely fast moving . . . When I was reading it I didn't get to sleep till late because I was so hooked in with the magic! At times it's gripping and packed with adventures and at other times it's mysterious and dramatic. Anyone who loves a fantastic drama would thoroughly enjoy this interesting book of revealing secrets. Also when I saw the pictures I fell in love with them!'

'It is a very sophisticated book that works on several levels . . . The story is extremely redolent both of Paris and of fairy tales. The author combines them very cleverly. Indeed, it is reminiscent of the magical realism of Angela Carter'

A charming, magical and sweet-filled adventure, continuing the story of Madeleine, Madame Pamplemousse and Camembert the cat