"Crossley-Holland's skill in string, powerful language remains deeply pronounced and rather lovely...Jorisch gives us a tapestry of almost medieval characters; those twisting, fanciful half-dreamt, half-believed outlines of animals and characters that twist into each other and curve around the page. His children are perfect; three distinct, diverse characters, and they're each rendered with such movement that they're a delight."

"There's an undercurrent of fear to The Riddlemaster, but I loved the old-fashioned riddling of it all. It's also a beauty to look at."

"Reading The Riddlemaster is like reading a long-lost fairytale...Jorisch's illustrations amplify the sense of being in a far-off land, and he includes multiethnic/multi-racial children. Kids will particularly enjoy trying to identify the animal 'characters' who journey on the boat."

★"A jewel box for lovers of stories, filled with riddles and allusions that will test, but not daunt, even younger readers."

"The riddles themselves are simple, and the illustrations of animals—many of whom mimic other famous creatures, such as Wild Things and the musicians of Bremen—complement this strange tale of adventure, cleverness, and storytelling."