Leina and the Haunted Forest by Dahman, Myriam

This modern fairy tale, beautifully illustrated in Júlia Sardà's inimitable and intricate style, is sure to become a classic.

When the townsfolk want to collect wood in the forest across the river, Leina is the one who takes them there and back in her boat. But, one day, her passenger - a young man named Oren - never appears for his return trip. Leina is worried. She's heard that the forest is haunted. That some people who go in never come out. So, when she finally spots the lantern across the river signaling that someone is waiting for her, she's relieved. Only, it isn't Oren. It's a strange toad who calls himself the Lord of the Toadstools. And Leina's odyssey to uncover the mystery of the missing townspeople is about to begin ...

Children will be enthralled by this richly imagined fairy tale about a forest's secrets - and its secret keepers. Written by the award-winning team of Myriam Dahman and Nicolas Digard, the story offers a powerful message about gratitude and forgiveness. With its captivating illustrations by internationally acclaimed artist Júlia Sardà, the book makes an excellent choice to read aloud, though it is also suitable for emerging readers. It provides opportunities for discussions about taking nature - and our fellow creatures - for granted, and the perils and harms that can come from misunderstanding others who are different.

Author: Myriam Dahman,Nicolas Digard
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Published: 10/06/2026
Pages: 48
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.83lbs
Size: 9.98h x 7.80w x 0.48d
ISBN: 9781525315800
Audience: Ages 4-8

Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 09/14/2026
Kirkus Reviews 10/01/2026
Booklist 10/01/2026

About the Author
Myriam Dahman was born and raised in Morocco and moved to France at age eighteen to study. She now lives in Paris, where she works as a climate change expert while also writing children's books. Her published works include The Owl Witch and The Wolf's Secret, co-written with Nicolas Digard, as well as several children's books published in France.
Nicolas Digard is an author and television screenwriter based in Paris, France. He has written for several children's animated series and a historical drama on Netflix. His published works include The Owl Witch and The Wolf's Secret, co-written by Myriam Dahman, as well as several children's books published in France.
Júlia Sardà is an internationally acclaimed illustrator of many books for young readers, including The Liszts, Mary Before Frankenstein and Dave Eggers's Moving the Millers' Minnie Moore Mine Mansion. She is the author-illustrator of The Queen in the Cave and The Witch in the Tower. Júlia lives in Barcelona, Spain.