Sophie Anderson - The House With Chicken Legs Runs Away - Book Review/Pre-order - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

Published by Usborne Publishing Ltd, 9th of April 2026. Book Cover art by Melissa Castrillion and inside illustrations by Elisa Pagnelli.

The House with Chicken Legs Runs Away is a magnificent and magical follow-up to Sophie Anderson’s enchanting tale that has captured the hearts of thousands, ESPECIALLY ME. This sequel is a spellbinding return to a universe where fantasy and heartfelt emotion intertwine, so much so you might JUST shed a tear or two. 

From the very first page, Anderson’s lyrical storytelling draws you into a realm bursting with wonder and fairy-tale magic. The narrative whisks you away on a pestle and mortar called Valiant, you heard it! In a breathtaking adventure Marinka, with the help of her loyal friend Benjamin and the quick-witted jackdaw Jack, races across fantastical lands in pursuit of answers. The story’s adventurous pace and imaginative settings keep readers of all ages on the edge of their seats. 

What makes this book truly shine is its blend of folklore, fairy-tale wonder and deep, relatable emotions. Marinka’s journey is not just one of physical pursuit but also one of self-discovery and courage. Facing her fears whilst unravelling the mysteries behind her house’s unexpected rebellion, Marinka’s quest is both a vivid adventure and a touching exploration of identity, freedom, and the bonds of friendship.

The House with Chicken Legs Runs Away is, without question, one of the best reads of the year. It offers a continuation of a beloved story while standing on its own as a masterful fairy-tale adventure. Whether you are a longtime fan of the series or new to Marinka’s world, you will find yourself captivated by the book’s charm and warmth.

Get ready to run wild with this house again, the epic tale reminds us that even when everything seems to fall apart, there is always magic waiting just around the bend. 

Why not Pre-order The House with Chicken Legs Runs Away to receive a limited-edition print of Elisa Pagnelli's gorgeous art and a brilliant badge pack so you can carry the house with you ✨E-mail proof of pre-order to marketing@usborne.co.uk✨ Offer ends 08.04.26 UK Only 🙏 You can pre-order from anywhere... but please also remember to support independent bookshops.  

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Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Festive and Christmas Children's Book and Gift Delights - 2023

 

Introducing our delightful festive children's book picks for Christmas 2023! Immerse your little ones and old ones in the magic of the season with enchanting stories, colorful illustrations, and heartwarming characters that will captivate your imagination. From tales of Santa's adventures to stories about friendship and the true meaning of Christmas, our book recommendations are sure to bring joy and wonder to your family's holiday celebrations. Get ready to embark on a memorable literary journey filled with holiday cheer!

Eoin Colfer (Author), Chaya Prabhat (Illustrator)  - Juniper's Christmas - Published by HarperCollins Children’s Books (26 Oct. 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0008475536 - Hardback - Age: 8+

A brand-new Christmas classic adventure about the magic of Santa Claus, set in North London and the North Pole – from the bestselling author of Artemis Fowl

IT ALL STARTED IN CHRISTMAS PAST . . .

It’s been ten years since Santa Claus performed his Christmas duties, but when Juniper Lane discovers the mysterious Niko, who lives in her local London park surrounded by Christmas trees and reindeer that can fly, she steps into a Christmas story like no other.

When Juniper’s mum goes missing and the park comes under threat from an ambitious park keeper, Juniper enlists Niko, who is surely Santa Claus, to help.

As the countdown to Christmas begins, Juniper must find her mother, restore the festive spirit, bring to life the true magic of the season and learn to ride her very own reindeer.

A brand-new festive classic, Juniper’s Christmas is a rip-roaring magical adventure filled with heart and humour – where one girl’s love might just be strong enough to save her family and Father Christmas himself.

Sophie Anderson (Author), Melissa Castrillion (Illustrator) - The Snow Girl - Published by Usborne Publishing (26 Oct. 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1803704357 - Hardback - Age: 7+ 

From award-winning and critically acclaimed Sophie Anderson, comes a fairy-tale story of friendship, belonging and bravery, in an adventure through a winter wonderland. The perfect read for the whole family this Christmas.

I wish the snow girl would come to life. Then I would have a friend, a real friend I could trust, and I wouldn't feel so alone.

When Tasha builds a snow girl with her grandpa, all she wants is for her to be real. If only wishes on snow could come true... Then Tasha meets Alyana, a friend made of wishes, starlight, snowfall and magic. But when your best friend is made of winter, what do you do when spring comes?

Alex T Smith - The Nutcracker: And the Mouse King's Christmas Shenanigans - Published by Macmillan Children's Books (5 Oct. 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1035028177 - Hardback - Age: 5+ 

A gorgeous retelling of children's Christmas classic The Nutcracker - a Christmas Story in twenty-four-and-a-half chapters. 

The Mouse King is up to some very sneaky shenanigans.

The night before Christmas, he steals the key to the Kingdom of Sweets and sets out to cause as much festive mayhem as he can!

Clara and Fritz Strudel, and their new friend the Nutcracker, are the only ones who can stop him. But when a magical curse is put on Fritz, it's a race against time to make it to the Kingdom of Sweets and find the Sugar Plum Fairy – the only one who can break the spell!

Can the adventurers stop the Mouse King's naughty plan and save Fritz, before it's too late?

With irresistible colour illustrations, a festively foiled cover and a chapter to enjoy each day in December, The Nutcracker And the Mouse King's Christmas Shenanigans is a gorgeous hardback, perfect for reading together.

J.R. Buchta (Author), Erin O'Leary Brown (Illustrator) - The Wonderful Once - Published by Warbucks Inc. (6 Oct. 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8986989525 - Hardback - Age: 4+ 

"Most things in life happen over and over again.

Some things happen only once.

This is the story of a wonderful once."

A little boy goes on a fantastic Christmas adventure in this story of a kind gesture that results in a magical journey, full of stardust and snowflakes. It's an all-around feel-good story with a surprise ending and a powerful message. Brought to life by beautiful illustrations, this enchanting tale captures the spirit of Christmas and the magic of a single good deed that changed the world forever. It has all the makings of an annual read for families at Christmastime and a fresh look at some age-old traditions that will surely capture the interest of readers around the world.

Why Readers Love The Wonderful Once: A Christmas Story:

• A new family Christmas tradition for readers around the world
• Teaches kids the values of giving and kindness that will last throughout the year
• A feel-good tale for readers of all ages (0-102)
• Makes a great Christmas gift or stocking stuffer for children, parents, grandparents, and teachers
• Screen-free family time during the cold winter months and holiday season

Sophie Anderson - The House with Chicken Legs Blog Tour: Fifteen Russian Fairy Tales and What They Mean to Me

Hooray! Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books is the next stop for 'The House with Chicken Legs' Blog Tour. It is with great pleasure that I find myself taking part in this BLOG tour to celebrate the publication of the book. The House with Chicken Legs is one of the best debut books that I've read. It has a very distinctive plot which is told with great imagination. Please check out my book review HERE. 

Nevermind what I think though - why not check the book out for yourself and buy a copy now. 

Sophie Anderson has written an inspiring post about fifteen Russian fairy tales and what they mean to her. 


The Gigantic Turnip (on community) 


‘Grandfather planted a turnip …’ 

In this Russian fairy tale, collected and published by Alexander Afanasyev in 1855, when the time comes to harvest the turnip, grandfather pulls and pulls, but can’t get the turnip out. So, grandfather calls grandmother, and grandmother pulls grandfather, and grandfather pulls the turnip. But still, the turnip doesn’t budge.

So, grandmother calls granddaughter to help, and when the turnip still doesn’t shift, granddaughter calls her puppy to help. The puppy calls a beetle, who calls another beetle, and another. 


‘Then the fifth beetle came. He pulled the fourth beetle, the fourth beetle pulled the third, the third pulled the second, the second pulled the first, the first beetle pulled the puppy, the puppy pulled the granddaughter, she pulled grandma, grandma pulled grandpa, grandpa pulled the turnip; they pulled and they pulled, and they pulled out the turnip.’ 



The gigantic turnip is a simple tale about the power of working together. The individuals pulling on the turnip have different strengths, but it is only by working together they free the turnip – and the last, tiny beetle is equally as important as the grandfather at the front of the line. 


History is full of examples of people working together to make massive changes. The civil rights movement, resistance against apartheid, women’s suffrage, LGBT rights, and the environmental movement, have all achieved levels of success as a result of people working together. 


In recent months I have heard many people call for change to gun laws in the US; from former president Barack Obama, to eleven-year-old activist Naomi Wadler. All their voices are equally important, and perhaps the greatest power is in seeing so many individuals working together to create momentous rallies and demonstrations. 


Away from politics, and on a more personal level, around two and half years ago I began writing The House with Chicken Legs. Although this was an individual endeavour, right from the start I was aware of my family supporting me, all the stories and storytellers who had inspired me, and all the folklorists, mythologists, and historians who had often spend lifetimes researching and creating books that I now dipped into for information. 

At the point I submitted the book to agents, it already felt like a joint effort between myself and at least one hundred other individuals! 


And then I signed with my incredible agent Gemma Cooper, and she led me through several rounds of edits. And then I signed with Usborne, and my amazing editor Rebecca Hill led me through several more rounds of edits! And there were more editors! Becky Walker, Mallory Kass, and Sarah Stewart; as well as proof-readers, cover artists, cover designers, illustrators, marketing people, publicity people, sales people … a seemingly endless array of talented people all working together to bring The House with Chicken Legs into the world.


And then ARCs flew out and there were reviewers, book bloggers, librarians, teachers, and readers, all contributing to making The House with Chicken Legs a success.


Like grandfather wouldn’t have that turnip without the help of many others, The House with Chicken Legs wouldn’t be running around bookstores, libraries, schools, and reader’s imaginations without the help of the countless people who have worked together to bring it into the world, and I am immensely proud of this bookish community and what we have achieved together! 


There is a lovely illustrated picture book retelling of this tale, written by Aleksei Tolstoy and illustrated by Niamh Sharkey, published by Barefoot Books. 



Naomi Wadler’s speech at March For Our Lives: 




Arnold Schwarzenegger’s speech, ‘none of us can make it alone’: 

Sophie Anderson grew up in Swansea, studied at Liverpool University, and has worked as a geologist and science teacher in several parts of the UK. She wrote textbooks until characters from Slavic fairy tales began appearing in her work.

Sophie has an international family and loves to write stories inspired by different folklores, cultures, and landscapes. Her dream is to create books that help children to explore the world and fall in love with its beautiful diversity.

Now living in the Lake District with her teacher and photographer husband, Sophie enjoys the freedom of homeschooling her three children, walking, canoeing, and daydreaming.

Sophie is represented by Gemma Cooper of The Bent Agency. Her first book THE HOUSE WITH CHICKEN LEGS is publishing in 2018 with Usborne in the UK and Scholastic in the US. Rights have also sold in Italy, Germany, and Romania.

Sophie is on Twitter @sophieinspace, Facebook SophieAndersonAuthor and Instagram SophieAndersonAuthor

Sophie Anderson - The House with Chicken Legs - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Book Review

Some stories are truly inspired by the soul. They dance with the wind until one day it's time for that story to be born. The House with Chicken Legs is one of those stories. It is Sophie Anderson's debut book for middle-grade readers and is due to be published by Usborne on the 1st May 2018. The story is beautifully told and delicately carved from Slavic folklore; it has been inspired from tales told by Sophie's Prussian grandmother during World War II.

The narrative from the first page leads the reader into a rich fantasy world that is wildly imaginative and very bold. You'll find yourself being swept away in the blink-of-an-eye as 'the house with chicken legs' takes off without warning in the middle of the night before nestling in a dark forbidden wood on the edge of civilization. This is a super start to an epic tale which skips and dances its chicken legs into a macabre world of fantasy.

The book explores the theme of death and the afterlife which are all told through the eyes of the young and loveable protagonist Marinka. Baby Yaga, her grandmother, is an inspirational character. She is a spiritual witch who is wise and very old. Her role is to guide the dead through the gate with tradition, ceremony music and lots of food. This delivers an edge to the story and sends a spine-tingling feeling down the back as the dead march on to the afterlife, or do they?

The story is told with heart, passion and love. Marinka dreams of a normal life, but her destiny may have a different path for her in this gripping adventure that will captivate the reader in so many ways. It's a truly magical story that will transport the reader into a narrative full of emotional challenges and many questions to be answered. As Marinka faces loneliness, friendship and death she tries to challenge her destiny and break free from her grandmother's footsteps.  Unfortunately, her house has different ideas and delivers an endless amount of possibilities.

You will journey across a creative landscape through mystery and sadness. You'll fly over a vivid backdrop like no other and explore the sounds and taste of another culture. It's a story full of tragic events but, eventually, the light shines bright. In fact, the stars come out to play and dance a merry jig leaving you with a warm feeling inside. This is a really memorable classical story that transcends time. It will stay with you forever, regardless of the next adventure that you find yourselves on.