It is a realm of silence and darkness where the evil witch Baba Jaga lives and rules in her gingerbread cottage deep in the larch trees. The whole place has been suffocated by the icy breath of winter. They say icicles hang like long bony fingers from the branches of the topmost boughs, poisoning all who dare to walk beneath them.'

When three plucky krasnals discover their sister has been captured by an evil witch, they set out on a hazardous journey to the White Forest to rescue her. But if their mission is to succeed they must take a strange salt globe to the queen in Krakow, for without it their quest will fail and the malignant crone will capture them all...

From the author of the Dragon of Krakow and the Mermaid of Warsaw, comes an exciting new story inspired by the myths and legends of central Europe and set in the forests and mines of southern Poland.

Praise for Richard Monte's collections of Polish folk tales:

The Mermaid of Warsaw

'Full of wonder, this is a stunning collection of enchanting folk stories with a timeless and universal appeal. Richard Monte captures the optimistic spirit of Poland in stories which delight on account of their magic and surprise.'—Lovereading

The Dragon of Krakow

'Interesting, well-written, imaginatively illustrated and designed book... there are rich rewards for those who enter the fascinating stories inside.'—Ibby Link