Otilla is running through the wood. We don’t quite know why, only that she has run so far that the familiar wood isn’t so recognisable anymore. Then she stumbles upon a large, old house, with only one occupant inside: a skull. It is a friendly skull, however, who happily shows Otilla around and invites her to stay the night. The problem is, it turns out they aren’t the only ones in the big house after all ...

Jon Klassen has a vast, dedicated fan base amongst both staff and customers at Readings, and The Skull will only gain him more fans. This is a beautiful book, in muted, ghostly shades of grey with colour popping in every now and again to brighten the darkest of moments. This is suitable for a spookier kind of kid – one who won’t get too shaken up by a skeleton-chase scene – and is a perfect, misremembered folk tale for 8+.