A soul-stirring reimagined Grimm tale by award-winning author Sally Nicholls and hauntingly illustrated by Júlia Sardà which will spellbind and thrill readers of all ages.
Nominated for a 2025 Carnegie Medal for Illustration!
When a poor fisherman chooses Death to be godfather to his son, he’s sure he’s made a good choice – for surely there’s no man more honest than Death? At the christening, Death gives the fisherman a gift that seems at first to be the key to the family’s fortune, but when greed overcomes the fisherman, he learns that nobody can truly cheat Death . . .

"Gloriously gothic" - Guardian

"an outstanding reworking of an old tale... Funny, thought-provoking, and elegantly illustrated by Júlia Sardà, this is a gem for 5+ and my picture book of the year" - New Statesman, Picture Book of the Year

"Nicholls’s skilful, sprightly retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairytale is enriched by Sardà’s superbly moody woodcut-style artwork" - Financial Times, Best Books of 2023

"Visually stunning and deliciously macabre re-working of a Grimm fairy tale" - LoveReading4Kids, Star Book

"This haunting folktale has been reimagined for the twenty-first century with insight, verve and style... [with] striking and extraordinary artwork... A gripping and exhilarating read" - Books for Keeps