There once lived a very rich king called Midas who believed that nothing was more precious than gold

So begins this imaginative retelling of the myth of the man with the golden touch. When a mysterious stranger offers to grant King Midas a wish, the king does not hesitate: He wishes that all he touches would turn to gold. To his delight, his wish is granted and he soon sets about transforming his ordinary palace into a place of golden beauty. But to his dismay, when he accidentally turns his beloved daughter Marigold, into a golden statue, Midas learns that what at first seems a blessing can also become a curse. Beautifully illustrated, this classic tale will capture children's interest and spark their imagination inspiring a lifelong love of literature and reading.

Nathaniel Hawthorne