17th-century Madrid is not a kind place for a dwarf like Bartolomé, and his family has to keep him hidden in a small back room. His dream is to be able to read and write, and when he hears that a dwarf like himself works in the King’s court, he is heartened, knowing that he could have the chance to make something of himself, too.

Then a plan goes awfully wrong, and the king’s little daughter, the Infanta, sees Bartolomé and wants to have him as her `human dog’. Life in the royal palace is scary and humiliating – ... Read moreuntil Bartolomé discovers the artist’s studio …

Colourful, gripping, and written with real warmth, this is an inspiring story of courage and hope. Van Kooij’s beautiful prose brings us into Bartolomé’s life and, through his eyes, writes about how being different ultimately makes an already strong boy even stronger.

Selected for IBBY’s Outstanding Books for Young People With Disabilities catalogue 2013.