This is an invitation to latch on to your imagination, and let it take you on an exciting ride to the extraordinary. THE STORYTELLER’S ALMANAC is your creative companion in unlocking new doors to your imagination and seeing where they might lead.

THE STORYTELLER’S ALMANAC
by Elise Hurst
Compendium, January 2026
(via the Crown Publishing Group)

Created by award-winning illustrator Elise Hurst, this captivating wordless picture book features 50 richly detailed illustrations to explore. There are imaginative places to visit, mythological creatures to meet, and amazing adventures waiting for you. But the story of these illustrations is yours to create.

Open the pages at bedtime, on a road trip, or as a creative writing exercise. And when you need a little extra inspiration, there’s a scavenger hunt included to help spot hidden details to fuel your storytelling journey.

Where will your stories take you? That’s up to you!

Elise Hurst is an Australian fine artist, illustrator, and author, specializing in books for children. She lives in a house full of books and paintings. From her studio, where black pens and oil paints spill across the desk, magical worlds leap into being. Like something out of Beatrix Potter or Narnia, her friends are rabbits and bears, lions and tigers—and they all have a story to share.