The Bandit Queen is my second book by these authors. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is imaginative. These two authors write dark children’s fairytales and this is a great addition to the collection. The book is written in rhythm and the story is fun.

A little girl is taken by the bandits and turned into their queen. She’s cheeky and full of character. She’s the bandit queen.

5 out of 5. It’s fun, it’s different and entertaining.

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had the opportunity to review the first book by the author when it was released. This story is just as enjoyable. What an absolutely delightful picture book. A quaint story accompanied by beautiful illustrations.

I adored Hortense and the Shadow, so when I received an email about a new book from the minds of Natalia and Lauren O’Hara and was thrilled to get the chance to read it.

While Hortense felt like a traditional tale, The Bandit Queen leans towards much more modern children’s books (or at least in line with what I remember from 20+ years ago!). But that doesn’t make one better or worse than the other, just different. And I’m pleased to say I enjoyed The Bandit Queen just as much as their debut.

I’m sure this would be a joy to read to kids. The story is written in rhyme (something which is a very big plus from me in a children’s books), and little ones will have fun looking at all the things going on in the wonderful artwork.

I really will pick up anything this team of sisters creates, and will definitely be reading them to my future children.

Beautiful book with the most exquisite illustrations.
My daughter absolutely adored this story and we’ve read this before bed every night now.
Love these stories

The Bandits are a mad bunch getting up to all sorts of things such as pinching forks, shouting and crashing about until three in the morning. On one trip the Bandits steal things from an Orphan School, in one box is a baby. They care for her, spoil her, give her their version of an education and make her their Bandit Queen. She grows tired of their childish behaviour and goes to get a proper education, she then realises she misses her bunch of Bandits and they also miss her.

This is a fun read with rhyming sentences that would be great to be read out loud. At the beginning of the story there are a few onomatopoeia words, ideal for engaging a child when being read to, or for that child to sound out.

The story is engaging and while the Bandits are quite naughty they are also fun. At the end of the book there is almost a cliffhanger of sorts, it could be the end or there is the clue that there could be more to come. I like this as it is a way to encourage a child to think about what could happen next, giving them a chance to develop their own imaginative story.

The pictures in this book are fabulous, they are detailed and are relevant to each part of the story and are bright and vivid in their colour, while still holding a slightly whimsical style.

Last year I read Hortense and The Shadow by the same author, and while that is a very different style of book it does have some similarities, rhyming verse, good illustrations and a storyline that would appeal to young readers.

This is a book that I as and adult enjoyed and think would definitely appeal to readers from around 5 and up, perfect to be read aloud and one I would definitely recommend.

This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of a young girl stolen away by a bunch of bandits. They make her their queen and promise to give her everything she needs!! However she soon realises the things she needs most are not material goods.

The pictures and rhyme in this book make it a fun easy read. The moral of the story is very cleverly intertwined and my grandchildren loved it!!

I have previously read Hortense and the Shadow and found this book every bit as appealing and beautifully written.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this orginal enjoyable book .

Really sweet story by Natalia O'Hara - the illustration is beautiful and very different in tone to Hortense and the Shadow.

What a beautifully illustrated book this is. I read and revised Hortense And The Shadow and I've now been given the chance to read this book about a little orphan girl who,is stolen by the bandits, who then adopt her as their queen.

This book is worth a look at for the illustrations alone. Children will like just how horrible the little orphan girl is. But she realises that she now needs some structure in her life. Someone to guide her as she grows up. The book is written in rhyme. A book the young will like reading/listening too and adults will enjoy reading out loud to their children.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Random House UK, Children's and the author Natalia O'Hara for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute little read. I liked how the story was set up and progressed. The art style was cute and the message of family and change at the centre of it was done really well.

This is a beautifully illustrated children’s book about a little orphan girl, stolen by the raucous, unruly bunch of the “best of all bandits”. The bandits then adopt her as their queen, as they are in awe of her horribleness: she “screeched and roared, and peed on the floor. Yelled and turned red, then bit them instead. Yodelled and crowed and hollered ‘NOOOO!”. She is given every material thing she wants, but what she eventually realises she needs, is some structure in her life, friends and adults to guide her as she grows up. The bandits have to grow up too, and find new ways to occupy themselves and new sources of (less anti-social) enjoyment. “it feels scary to grow, but less when you know that someone you love can show you the way”
Young children will be entranced by the pictures, and the wild life of the bandits and their queen. But most will come to agree with the queen in the end – anarchy and chaos are all very well for a short time, but safe boundaries and rules, with people you love and trust are worth more than all the presents in the world.
The book is written in rhyme, and has an ending (or new beginning) designed to continue to excite children’s imagination after the book is read.

I didn't really understand the story. It starts quite abruptly and I don't know what the end means. The language was quite confusing.
The illustrations are fun and colourful and reminded me of the circus.

original illustrations and a simple story but not one, I'm afraid, that would engage my grandchildren.

The bandit queen by Natalie 'hara.
"O Bandit Queen!" the bandits cried. "Little horror! Poison weed! We'll give you everything a queen could ever need..." The bandits give their queen treasure, tigers, mischief and mayhem. But sometimes a little girl needs something more... 
This was a lovely quick picture story. My girls loved the pictures. 5*.

The Bandit Queen is just beautiful, the illustrations are perfect and the story itself is a wonderful heartwarming tale of family and growing up. The Bandits give the Queen all the mischief in the world but sometimes you need more than noise and mayhem. My children loved this as did I, definitely a book I’ll give as a gift.

A delightful book with illustrations and poetic wit equal in measure. I thoroughly enjoyed this short and compelling picture book and think many young readers and their parents will find it just as charming.

Coming of age for pre-school children. This is charming and I love the illustrations. It made me laugh out loud which is always a plus for a picture book!