In a big abandoned house, on a barren hill, lives a skull. A brave girl named Otilla has escaped from terrible danger and run away, and when she finds herself lost in the dark forest, the lonely house beckons. Her host, the skull, is afraid of something too, something that comes every night: a headless skeleton that chases him through the halls. Can brave Otilla save them both? And if she does, will their unlikely friendship persevere?
Caldecott Medalist and #1 New York Times best-selling author-illustrator Jon Klassen's signature wry humor takes a turn for the ghostly in this thrilling retelling of a traditional Tyrolean folktale. Steeped in shadows and threaded with subtle wit — with rich, monochromatic artwork and an illuminating author’s note — The Skull is as empowering as it is mysterious and foreboding.
"Klassen balances the spooky elements of the story brilliantly alongside cozy teas and the occasional waltz. This is aided in no small part by a limited palette that depicts the slanted burnt umber rays of the rising and setting sun as well as the gentle gleam of candlelight. In a marvelous author’s note, Klassen recounts how he encountered this folktale in a school library and misremembered it in the best way. As he says, 'Folktales…are supposed to be changed by who is telling them, and you never find them the same way twice.'" — Kirkus Reviews
Recommended Age | 6 - 9 |
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Author | Jon Klassen |
Illustrator | Jon Klassen |
ISBN | 1536223360 |
Publication Date | Jul 11, 2023 |
Publisher | Candlewick |
Language | English |