The Storyteller of Marrakesh by Joydeep Roy-Bhattacharya

An enigmatic pair of lovers arrives at Marrakesh’s Jemaa el Fna square, captivates merchants and onlookers, and mysteriously disappears.  Hassan the storyteller, whose brother is implicated in the crime, relates the event, while his listeners interrupt, giving their own memories and interpretations.  As the story progresses, fascinating details are revealed about the city of Marrakesh, its visitors and inhabitants.

Author Joydeep Roy Bhattacharya tells about the writing of the book in his interview here.

Toby and Tess are twins. One day their mother gave them a picnic lunch and shooed them outside to play. Toby and Tess sat on an old bench under a nearby chestnut tree wondering what they should do today.

Off in the distance they saw a figure; it was a man, a stranger, who looked very old.  He used a staff and carried a bundle on his back. He looked all around, and then began making his way down the hill, coming toward the bench where Toby and Tess sat. They quickly stood up and the old man slumped down onto the bench.

Toby and Tess were about to meet the most remarkable storyteller ever. They shared their lunch with Teller, and in return he told them the tale of the Woodcutter’s Daughter. This was the first of many stories that Teller would share with Tess and Toby on this bench, under the chestnut tree. And at the conclusion of each story he’d give them a small memento from his bundle to help remind them of the stories he told and the lessons learned from each one.

In The Storyteller’s Secrets children and adults will both enjoy Tony Mitton's retelling of five well-known tales. In addition to “The Woodcutter’s Daughter,” there are the stories of “St. Brigid's Cloak,” “The Seal Hunter,” “The Pedlar of Swaffham” and “Tam Lin.” Each story and each visit reveals some special secret to the children and finally Teller shares a magical map. Many black & white illustrations by Peter Bailey further enhance each story.