Lhakpa lives high in the hills of the Himalayan mountains of Nepal.

His Sherpa village is celebrating with a Tibetan Festival which includes the local monks, calmly chanting their incantations.

One monk shares a fantastical story with Lhakpa about a beautiful silver castle and its extraordinary owner. Before he can change his mind, Lhakpa sets off with his four beasts – a Yak, a Nak, a Zopchok and a Zum.

The journey is difficult, often cold and sometimes frightening, but Lhakpa is determined to see the castle and meet the one who lives there.

The monk had told Lhakpa that he must use his eyes to see who is not what he seems.

Finally, after much trekking and adventure, Lhakpa discovers exactly what the monk meant. There is more to seeing than just your sight.

Inspired by a Tibetan monk, a young boy sets off on an adventure into the Himalayan Mountains. He has his beloved beasts along for the arduous journey, as he is seeking the answer to a secret hidden in the clouds.

Author Peter Hillary is the son of Sir Edmund Hillary, one of the first two men to climb Mt Everest, along with Tenzing Norgay.

This story originated from wise words spoken by a Sherpa friend of Sir Edmund.

“Our children have eyes and yet they cannot see.”

The dedication of this full colour, large format hardback reads – to conviviality and kindness and the wonder of surprise.

This is not only a message for the young. Not everything is at first what it seems. A person’s appearance or surroundings does not tell the whole story as Lhakpa discovers for himself.

Multi layered for many ages with extended text for confident junior readers, and sumptuous pictures by talented NZ illustrator Ant Sang.

(In a world of fake news and filtered social media, the truth is more often than not – deeper than the first experience of information or image. This tale is just as applicable today as when Sir Edmund heard his friend’s wise words.)

You’ll have to read the story to learn what a Nak, a Zopchok and a Zum is!

Author – Peter Hillary

Illustrator – Ant Sang

Picture Book for extended readers

Age – 6+

(2022, Bateman Books, NZ Author, NZ Illustrator, New Zealand, Sir Edmund Hillary, Tibetan Monks, Sherpa Village, Yaks, Pack Animals, Himalayan Mountains, Festival, Action, Adventure, Animals, Courage, Growing up, Historical, Mystery, Secret, Journey, Quest)