The Suitcase

Shortlisted for the 2020 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal

When a strange-looking animal arrives pulling a big suitcase, the other animals are curious. What on earth could be inside that suitcase? A teacup? Maybe. A table and chair? Perhaps. A whole home and hillside with trees? This stranger must be fibbing! But when the animals break into the suitcase and discover a very special photograph, they begin to understand what the strange creature has been through, and together they create a very special welcome present . . .

"At a time when over 65 million people are forcibly displaced around the world, this beautifully illustrated and wise, gentle tale of tolerance and kindness for fellow humans resonates deeply. I hope all parents share The Suitcase with their children." - Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner

"A simple, powerful way to introduce the idea of kindness to strangers to young children." - Axel Scheffler, illustrator of The Gruffalo

"Welcome and understanding are at the heart of this children s book by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros. Beautifully illustrated, The Suitcase explores themes of displacement and difference in a way young audiences can easily engage with. This is more important than ever now that a record number of people have been forced from their homes due to war and persecution." - Laura Padoan, UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency

"[O]ne of the most empathetic children s books on giving kindness to strangers ever published [...] Be warned, this will make you burst into tears." - Amanda Craig, New Statesman

"This original, striking and simple picture book about animals responding to the arrival of a strange creature...is a beautifully succinct and powerful lesson in empathy for outsiders." - Nicolette Jones, The Sunday Times

"The Suitcase is a beautiful picture book about kindness to strangers and not knowing what other people's stories are. It made us feel sadder but gladder at the same time and it is so wonderful and enriching." - Cathy Rentzenbrink

Auteur

Chris is originally from Bradford and studied illustration and graphic design at Bradford College of Art. In 2000 he moved to France where, amongst other things, he was an English teacher before working in newspaper layout and design. When his children were small he realised he loved the picture books he read to them, sometimes even more than his children did - the Picture Book Bug had truly bitten. Chris has since written and illustrated several books and is currently thinking about the next one, probably with a cuppa in hand at home near Limoges. He likes listening to and making music, wandering around the countryside, a bit of running and riding a bike. His favourite season is autumn and his favourite colour is green.