What do you think?
Rate this book
Leina et le Seigneur des Amanites
A richly atmospheric gift of a book about gratitude and forgiveness, from the award-winning creators of The Wolf's Secret and illustrated by the internationally acclaimed artist Júlia Sardà.
Leina owns the only boat in town - she ferries townsfolk over to the forest where they chop trees and hunt animals. But everyone in the town fears the forest and not everyone who goes in comes back out again...
When Leina's friend, Oren, doesn't return, she goes on a mission to find him. In the forest she meets the mysterious Mr Spadefoot who introduces himself as The Lord of the Toadstools.
Mr Spadefoot is strange and magical and Leina suspects that he knows where she can find Oren. She accepts his invitation for dinner in his underground palace and there she discovers the secret of the forest and the mystery of the missing townsfolk.
Leina owns the only boat in town - she ferries townsfolk over to the forest where they chop trees and hunt animals. But everyone in the town fears the forest and not everyone who goes in comes back out again...
When Leina's friend, Oren, doesn't return, she goes on a mission to find him. In the forest she meets the mysterious Mr Spadefoot who introduces himself as The Lord of the Toadstools.
Mr Spadefoot is strange and magical and Leina suspects that he knows where she can find Oren. She accepts his invitation for dinner in his underground palace and there she discovers the secret of the forest and the mystery of the missing townsfolk.
48 pages, Hardcover
Published October 6, 2022
568 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
October 23, 2022
I enjoyed this slightly scary, fairy tale style story and the illustrations are beautiful. There are lots of pretty flower, leaf and gourd details and some pages have art nouveau style borders, there's so much detail and the pages are beautiful to look at. The colour palette is very appealing, lots of colours from nature in autumn.
The fairy tale style story involves a young rower, who rows people over the river to the woods, it's rumoured that sometimes people don't come back. When her friend disappears she sets off to find him.
A very enjoyable story, perfect for children who want a picture book with a bit more to the story and enjoy a slight element of danger.
The fairy tale style story involves a young rower, who rows people over the river to the woods, it's rumoured that sometimes people don't come back. When her friend disappears she sets off to find him.
A very enjoyable story, perfect for children who want a picture book with a bit more to the story and enjoy a slight element of danger.
May 27, 2024
Everything about this book is just everything I love about books. The story felt like a classic fairy tale but with a little bit of Studio Ghibli stories mixed in. The illustrations are some of my favorite and it’s just such a beautiful book. This would have been one of my favorite books to read as a kid because of the mix of just a tiny bit of scary/weirdness but also telling an amazing message about gratitude and forgiveness. Just adored it. 🍄
December 26, 2022
I adored the first book by this author-author-illustrator trio (The Wolf's Secret), so I was thrilled to get this one for Christmas - and it was every bit as wonderful as I'd hoped. I love the beautiful new fairytales that Dahman and Digard write together - perfect for both adults and older kids - and the artwork by Júlia Sardà Portabella is breathtakingly gorgeous. The hardcover edition is just a perfect little work of art, and I SO highly recommend it.
Read
July 25, 2023Très bel objet, le style graphique est très marquant. Beaucoup aimé l’histoire.
December 25, 2025
Truputį Alisa stebuklų šaly, bet iliustracijos vertos tatuiruočių
October 27, 2022
Une histoire qui m’a rappelé celle de Barbe Bleu mais avec une bien plus belle morale
August 26, 2023
I love you strange Children's stories I love you Júlia Sardà
Read
October 9, 2022This is a book for children and I am an adult but I read it and it is awesome. Beautiful beautiful illustrations and a really great spooky-to-whimsical ratio. Gothic picture books ftw
November 8, 2023
Nuova pubblicazione della Sardà e sono più contenta di averla beccata in libreria.
Contrariamente alle precedenti uscite, riprende lo stile più maturo e oscuro di The Wolf’s Secret, risultando un albo illustrato destinato a un pubblico diverso dai bambini.
Le illustrazioni hanno toni spenti e caldi, rendendola la perfetta lettura autunnale. Inoltre, come ogni tavola uscita dalla sua penna, il background è pieno zeppo di dettagli e particolari che catturano l’attenzione del lettore e danno profondità alla scena, oltre che invogliare lo sguardo a indugiare.
La storia è semplice e lineare. Leina, la barcaiola silenziosa del villaggio, indagherà sulle recenti scomparse che hanno coinvolto i suoi concittadini, scoprendo che dietro a tutto ciò si nasconde la particolare figura del Signore dei Rospi.
Sarà compito suo batterlo d’astuzia o finire come gli altri sventurati che si sono persi nel fiume.
Nel complesso si rivela una lettura interessante e coinvolgente grazie al tratto particolare della Sardà, ma anche la trama è di tutto rispetto.
Ideale da leggere in questo periodo o per fare un regalo diverso dal solito, Leina saprà condurvi in tutta sicurezza attraverso il fiume.
Contrariamente alle precedenti uscite, riprende lo stile più maturo e oscuro di The Wolf’s Secret, risultando un albo illustrato destinato a un pubblico diverso dai bambini.
Le illustrazioni hanno toni spenti e caldi, rendendola la perfetta lettura autunnale. Inoltre, come ogni tavola uscita dalla sua penna, il background è pieno zeppo di dettagli e particolari che catturano l’attenzione del lettore e danno profondità alla scena, oltre che invogliare lo sguardo a indugiare.
La storia è semplice e lineare. Leina, la barcaiola silenziosa del villaggio, indagherà sulle recenti scomparse che hanno coinvolto i suoi concittadini, scoprendo che dietro a tutto ciò si nasconde la particolare figura del Signore dei Rospi.
Sarà compito suo batterlo d’astuzia o finire come gli altri sventurati che si sono persi nel fiume.
Nel complesso si rivela una lettura interessante e coinvolgente grazie al tratto particolare della Sardà, ma anche la trama è di tutto rispetto.
Ideale da leggere in questo periodo o per fare un regalo diverso dal solito, Leina saprà condurvi in tutta sicurezza attraverso il fiume.
October 15, 2022
Marvellous in every way :-) A magical fairy tale, full of wonder, wizardy, and talking animals :-) The illustrations are mesmerising. Highly recommend for anyone who needs a little magic in their life.
December 2, 2023
still my favourite
December 12, 2022
Лейна і Володар поганок 🐸
Справжня казка — красива, з інтригою, трохи кріпова і в міру повчальна.
Кольорова палітра, оформлення, деталі – це любов!
Справжня казка — красива, з інтригою, трохи кріпова і в міру повчальна.
Кольорова палітра, оформлення, деталі – це любов!
November 3, 2022
Un conte avec un sous texte écolo, qui réinterprete la Barbe Bleue à sa façon, et aux illustrations sombres et sublimes. Quel beau diable que ce cher Messire Bombifrons, et comme Leina est vaillante !
Un petit bijou.
Un petit bijou.
March 12, 2023
Avec des petites couleurs à la Barbe Bleue et de la Reine des Neiges d'Andersen, ce conte aux magnifiques illustrations montre une héroïne courageuse et téméraire qui part sauver son ami. Le récit se dévoile au-travers d'une atmosphère un peu étouffante, tendue, frôlant le glauque. Le noir est omniprésent mais des couleurs vibrantes mais contrôlées s'en détachent; les compositions sont denses et éclatées, et comportent des des clin-d'oeils à M.C. Escher...
October 23, 2022
What an utterly beautiful book! Timeless in every way, and definitely one that older readers of any kind will adore.
I felt truly wrapped up in this world and the art is everything
I felt truly wrapped up in this world and the art is everything
August 25, 2023
Just so cute, we should all own more picture books
March 23, 2025
Divino. Lleno de magia y juegos como en El laberinto del fauno.
November 20, 2022
There once was a small town far in the West, that bordered a forest.
The townsfolk believed the forest was haunted but they would still cross the river to take the firewood they needed. The only person with a boat is Leina, a girl who smiled but never spoke. Her favourite passenger is a young name named Oren, with smiling eyes and a welcome joke.
Then, just like the rumours, he too vanishes on a trip to the forest. The townsfolk don't look for him but Leina doesn't believe he is gone forever, and looks out for his lantern to return from the darkness. When she finally sees a light she ventures in, only to find a man sized toad.
He needs a ride across the river, which Leina provides. But soon this toad who claims to be Lord of the Toadstools is back, upset at the treatment he received. Leina is unnerved but brave, following the toad into an underground palace.
She can hardly believe what she finds, but must conjure even more courage and even more cunning to not become another soul lost to the forest.
Told like a fairytale, this sumptuously illustrated hardback picture book is something special. It reminded me of the classic Rumpelstiltskin where thinking clearly and being cleverer than your captor is the only way to escape.
Essentially, Leina and the Lord of the Toadstools is about not just taking what you want, but also giving back. Being grateful for what you have and forgiving those around you - all spun with a touch of magic.
The townsfolk believed the forest was haunted but they would still cross the river to take the firewood they needed. The only person with a boat is Leina, a girl who smiled but never spoke. Her favourite passenger is a young name named Oren, with smiling eyes and a welcome joke.
Then, just like the rumours, he too vanishes on a trip to the forest. The townsfolk don't look for him but Leina doesn't believe he is gone forever, and looks out for his lantern to return from the darkness. When she finally sees a light she ventures in, only to find a man sized toad.
He needs a ride across the river, which Leina provides. But soon this toad who claims to be Lord of the Toadstools is back, upset at the treatment he received. Leina is unnerved but brave, following the toad into an underground palace.
She can hardly believe what she finds, but must conjure even more courage and even more cunning to not become another soul lost to the forest.
Told like a fairytale, this sumptuously illustrated hardback picture book is something special. It reminded me of the classic Rumpelstiltskin where thinking clearly and being cleverer than your captor is the only way to escape.
Essentially, Leina and the Lord of the Toadstools is about not just taking what you want, but also giving back. Being grateful for what you have and forgiving those around you - all spun with a touch of magic.
January 6, 2023
Possédant la seule barque du village, Leina permet aux habitants de traverser la rive jusqu’à la forêt. Un jour, Oren, l’un de ses passagers, disparaît, comme de nombreux autres avant lui. Alors que Leina attend son retour, un crapaud géant prend place dans sa barque. À sa demande, elle l’amène au village mais son séjour est vite écourté alors que les habitants apeurés le chasse. Sur le chemin du retour, il invite Leina à diner. À reculons, elle accepte et se retrouve dans un immense royaume souterrain. Le crapaud, bien que cordial, lui donne l’ordre de ne jamais ouvrir la porte noire… La curiosité de Leina l’emportera et elle découvrira l’horrible secret de son hôte.
J’ai beaucoup aimé ma lecture.
C’est un conte à la fois obscure et mystérieux que nous offre l’auteur et l’autrice. La morale est bien amenée. Elle nous fait réfléchir aux gestes que posent les humains envers la nature. Prendre sans reconnaissance et sans jamais lui redonner en retour.
J’ai eu un gros coup de coeur pour les illustrations de Júlia Sardà. Je suis vraiment fan de tout ce qu’elle crée. Ses œuvres sont époustouflantes. J’aime me perdre dans la richesse de ses décors gothiques. J’aimerais lire tous les livres qu’elle a illustrés. 🖤
Leina et le seigneur des Amanites, un magnifique livre à découvrir. ✨
J’ai beaucoup aimé ma lecture.
C’est un conte à la fois obscure et mystérieux que nous offre l’auteur et l’autrice. La morale est bien amenée. Elle nous fait réfléchir aux gestes que posent les humains envers la nature. Prendre sans reconnaissance et sans jamais lui redonner en retour.
J’ai eu un gros coup de coeur pour les illustrations de Júlia Sardà. Je suis vraiment fan de tout ce qu’elle crée. Ses œuvres sont époustouflantes. J’aime me perdre dans la richesse de ses décors gothiques. J’aimerais lire tous les livres qu’elle a illustrés. 🖤
Leina et le seigneur des Amanites, un magnifique livre à découvrir. ✨
January 10, 2023
Leina est passeuse sur la rivière qui sépare son village et la forêt qui le borde. Nombre de villageois s’y étant aventurés ne sont jamais revenus. Un jour, Leina va transporter sur sa barque un étrange passager : Messire Brombiron, seigneur des amanites.
Après Le talisman du loup, le duo d’auteur.ice.s nous livre un nouveau conte empreint de mystère. Qui est vraiment cet étrange seigneur ? Quel secret cache-t-il dans son palais souterrain ? Et Leina parviendra-t-elle à retrouver les villageois disparus ?
Reprenant les codes des contes classiques, Leina et le seigneur des amanites nous livre une histoire mystérieuse et moderne à la fois.
Il ne faut surtout pas oublier les superbes illustrations de Julia Sarda qui viennent appuyer l’ambiance sombre, étrange et merveilleuse de cette fable. Chaque page est une véritable œuvre d’art, une merveille pour le regard, comme toujours.
En espérant que ce trio fabuleux continue de nous régaler le cœur et les yeux de ces nouveaux contes !
Après Le talisman du loup, le duo d’auteur.ice.s nous livre un nouveau conte empreint de mystère. Qui est vraiment cet étrange seigneur ? Quel secret cache-t-il dans son palais souterrain ? Et Leina parviendra-t-elle à retrouver les villageois disparus ?
Reprenant les codes des contes classiques, Leina et le seigneur des amanites nous livre une histoire mystérieuse et moderne à la fois.
Il ne faut surtout pas oublier les superbes illustrations de Julia Sarda qui viennent appuyer l’ambiance sombre, étrange et merveilleuse de cette fable. Chaque page est une véritable œuvre d’art, une merveille pour le regard, comme toujours.
En espérant que ce trio fabuleux continue de nous régaler le cœur et les yeux de ces nouveaux contes !
April 23, 2023
A captivating, richly illustrated book that explores themes of gratitude and forgiveness. Leina is the only boat owner in town, ferrying locals to the forest for hunting and tree chopping. But the townsfolk are wary of the forest, as not everyone who ventures in returns.
When Leina's friend Oren fails to come back, she embarks on a quest to find him. In the forest, she meets a mysterious figure called Mr Spadefoot who claims to be The Lord of the Toadstools. Leina suspects that Mr Spadefoot knows where Oren is and agrees to join him for dinner in his underground palace. It's there that she discovers the truth about the forest and the missing townsfolk.
The story is weird and wonderful, folkloresque in its shape and design with a healthy dose of Jim Henson's Labyrinth to boot. Sarda's illustrations are simply incredible.
When Leina's friend Oren fails to come back, she embarks on a quest to find him. In the forest, she meets a mysterious figure called Mr Spadefoot who claims to be The Lord of the Toadstools. Leina suspects that Mr Spadefoot knows where Oren is and agrees to join him for dinner in his underground palace. It's there that she discovers the truth about the forest and the missing townsfolk.
The story is weird and wonderful, folkloresque in its shape and design with a healthy dose of Jim Henson's Labyrinth to boot. Sarda's illustrations are simply incredible.
June 13, 2024
Far, far away in the West there was a small town that sat on the edge of a river, on the edge of a forest "That forest has eyes and ears, the townsfolk would say, "that forest is haunted."
We found these two wonderful and beautiful children's books in an independent bookshop in Haworth during our recent pilgrimage to Brontë Country.
Once we realised there was only one copy of each left in the shop and that they clearly needed to be bought as a pair, with their vivid and eye-catching design, we had to take them home with us.
The stories feel like fairy-tale of old, folklore perhaps, and this one follows Leina as she tries to discover the reason behind the mysterious disappearance of people from her village. As with tales of this type, there are twists, turns, and a morale to boot.
The artwork lifts these books to 5 stars. You will keep going back to the illustrations to soak up the detail. Some of the full page designs deserve to be framed and I think we'll be looking out for more copies in charity shops to do just that. 5 stars.
We found these two wonderful and beautiful children's books in an independent bookshop in Haworth during our recent pilgrimage to Brontë Country.
Once we realised there was only one copy of each left in the shop and that they clearly needed to be bought as a pair, with their vivid and eye-catching design, we had to take them home with us.
The stories feel like fairy-tale of old, folklore perhaps, and this one follows Leina as she tries to discover the reason behind the mysterious disappearance of people from her village. As with tales of this type, there are twists, turns, and a morale to boot.
The artwork lifts these books to 5 stars. You will keep going back to the illustrations to soak up the detail. Some of the full page designs deserve to be framed and I think we'll be looking out for more copies in charity shops to do just that. 5 stars.
October 23, 2025
I loved how tactile the cover of the picture is as well as the theme of nature and whimsical plants with the dandelions, strawberries and blackberries. The cover makes the reader think of fairies and wonder. The illustrations in the picture book almost combat this as it is quite mystic and almost psychedelic. There is a strong link between animals and morals. The main male character, the Toad, is seen as an evil character but it might be because he was treated poorly by the villagers.
This would be perfect for reading aloud with the class over a few sessions so pupils can truly enjoy and experience the language Dahman uses to form their craft.
This would be perfect for reading aloud with the class over a few sessions so pupils can truly enjoy and experience the language Dahman uses to form their craft.
September 25, 2023
The tale is a cross between Beauty and the Beast and the Princess and the Frog. Throw in a bit of Circe, and you have a story about human weakness, disrespect, and betrayal with severe consequences. Yet there is a happy ending. And the artwork, oh my. I am too young to remember the 60s, but this artwork is right up there with other trippy, wild pictures. I actually spent time studying the pictures to see all the details. This is a good book for middle school kids, but adults will appreciate it as well, differently but equally.
December 13, 2022
I was shopping for my baby cousins at Better Read Than Dead and came across this gem and couldn’t resist buying it for myself.
If I could give it more than five stars I would, if just for the illustrations! Absolutely enchanting, slightly odd and eerie but beautiful and so detailed. The story was enchanting too for a picture book but the illustrations really made it sing. Loved the uniqueness of it. Gorgeous! Can’t wait to share with the small ones.
If I could give it more than five stars I would, if just for the illustrations! Absolutely enchanting, slightly odd and eerie but beautiful and so detailed. The story was enchanting too for a picture book but the illustrations really made it sing. Loved the uniqueness of it. Gorgeous! Can’t wait to share with the small ones.
March 18, 2025
Me gusta cuando los libros para niñes trabajan lo visual en los textos, cuyos tamaños y estilos tipográficos buscan guiar una lectura dramática. La historia es un poco oscura, pero te mantiene en vilo y tiene algunos tópicos interesantes: el cuidado del bosque, el diálogo y la curiosidad. Las ilustraciones son espectaculares.
November 19, 2022
The illustrations are beautiful! And the message behind the story is also beautiful too. That we should be mindful and respectful of our world, only take what we need and to be caring to all our animal and human friends. 4/5
March 20, 2023
More than just the beautiful illustrations, the story was captivating. I liked the alice in wonderland but slightly darker feel to the book. It felt like a dark children’s book classic, one that I seem to have quite like very very much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2024
I've read the other picture book by this creative team (the wolf's secret) and thought that one was a masterpiece. Here, the art is still very, very good, but the story is a pretty basic fairytale adventure. It didn't do so much for me.
November 2, 2025
Las ilustraciones y como van avanzando a través de la historia son maravillosas. La historia es linda y fácil de entender.
The illustrations and how they progress throughout the story are wonderful. The story is lovely and easy to understand.
The illustrations and how they progress throughout the story are wonderful. The story is lovely and easy to understand.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews