The Skull :A Spooky Illustrated Adventure Story about Friendship and Courage for Kids Ages 6–9 – A Stylish Gothic Gift from the Bestselling Creator of This Is Not My Hat
The Skull :A Spooky Illustrated Adventure Story about Friendship and Courage for Kids Ages 6–9 – A Stylish Gothic Gift from the Bestselling Creator of This Is Not My Hat
hardback
Published:
11 July, 2023
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Description
A #1 New York Times bestseller!
“A mysterious, exquisitely presented gothic tale.” Sunday Times
"Haunting and charming. A dark, delectable adventure." Daily Telegraph
"Strange and deliciously creepy, this is the perfect read for children who like something a bit different." Irish independent ‘The Best Spooky and Sweet Autumn Reads for Children’
“Children and adults alike will be captivated and uplifted by this book that is particularly perfect for spooky season – and ideal for newly-independent readers.” The Scotsman
From Jon Klassen, Caldecott Medalist and bestselling creator of This Is Not My Hat, comes a wonderfully eerie yet gentle Halloween story perfect for ages 6–9.
On a dark night, a girl named Otilla stumbles across a lonely, abandoned house deep in the forest. Inside waits a skull – who has a secret of its own. Together, they face the shadows that arrive each night… and discover the strength that comes from courage and kindness.
With Klassen’s signature dry humour, hauntingly beautiful illustrations and a touch of deliciously spooky fun, The Skull is ideal for kids who like their stories mysterious but not too scary. Parents can feel reassured: while this gothic folktale has a shiver of creepiness, it ends with strength, empowerment and a reminder that even the strangest friendships can be the most comforting.
Perfect for:
- Independent readers ages 6–9
- Families looking for a suspenseful but not-too-scary read-aloud
- Fans of spooky folktales with a twist of wit and charm
Prizes
Winner of California Independent Booksellers Alliance Golden Poppy Awards 2023 (United States),Short-listed for Books Are My Bag Readers Awards 2023 (UK),Short-listed for The Carnegie Medal 2024 (UK),Short-listed for British Book Design and Production Awards - Children’s Trade 2024 (UK),Long-listed for Blackwell's Book of the Year 2023 (UK),Nominated for Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature 2023 (United States),Nominated for Connecticut Nutmeg Children’s Book Award 2026 (United States)
More Details
| Type | Book |
|---|---|
| ISBN13 | 9781529509571 |
| ISBN10 | 1529509572 |
| Number Of Pages | 112 |
| Item Weight | 400 g |
| Product Dimensions | 154 x 206 x 20 mm |
| Publisher / Reseller | Walker Books Ltd |
| Format | hardback |
Media Reviews
A dark, delectable adventure. -- Emily Bearn * The Daily Telegraph *
A mysterious, exquisitely presented gothic tale about a runaway girl and a talking skull, who befriend each other, and a threatening headless skeleton. Klassen’s images make astonishing use of light and dark, especially in his rosy-fingered dawn. -- Nicollette Jones * The Sunday Times *
Beautiful, heartwarming, funny, and only very mildly spooky. If anyone can turn an obscure Middle-European folk fable into a bestseller, it’s Klassen. -- Tristram Saunders * Daily Telegraph *
Klassen’s deadpan humour and shadowy illustration combine to darkly chilling effect as he harnesses the power of traditional storytelling. Brilliant. -- Sally Morris * Daily Mail *
“This is a delicious little horror, inspired by a Tyrolean folk tale, about a lonely, abandoned skull who plays host to a very brave little girl. It has surprises, a clever wit and some knockout illustrations.” * Big Issue *
GoodReads Reviews
Author's Bio
Jon Klassen is the author-illustrator of I Want My Hat Back, We Found a Hat and This Is Not My Hat, the only book to ever win both the Kate Greenaway and Caldecott Medal. He also illustrated Triangle, Square, The Wolf, the Duck and the Mouse, Extra Yarn and Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, all written by Mac Barnett, as well as Ted Kooser's House Held Up By Trees. Before making picture books, he worked as an illustrator on the animated feature film, Coraline. Originally from Niagara Falls, Canada, Jon now lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife and son. Find Jon online at burstofbeaden.com, on Twitter as @burstofbeaden, and on Instagram as @jonklassen.