Puppet

A magical, rittly-rattly tale… A gentler story that avoids whittling into the darker themes of Pinocchio to stay closer in tone to Pixar’s Up. But thanks to Almond’s idiosyncratic style it has the same creeping sense of a life hanging in the balance that makes Skellig such an electrifying read 26 years on… Lizzy Stewart’s drawings are pitch-perfect, giving the story the feeling of having been as lovingly handcrafted as Silvester’s green-eyed lad.

A magical, rittly-rattly tale… A gentler story that avoids whittling into the darker themes of Pinocchio to stay closer in tone to Pixar’s Up. But thanks to Almond’s idiosyncratic style it has the same creeping sense of a life hanging in the balance that makes Skellig such an electrifying read 26 years on… Lizzy Stewart’s drawings are pitch-perfect, giving the story the feeling of having been as lovingly handcrafted as Silvester’s green-eyed lad.

I think it’s simply wonderful. The language is so clean and beautiful. And I found the relationship between Sylvester and Kenneth/Puppet so pure and fragile it brought me to tears. CONGRATULATIONS to David on writing such a gorgeously hopeful book (despite the sadness in it).

Just like a puppet-maker, David Almond can create a story from the world all around. He takes the simplest pieces of life and rebuilds them into something quite magical. Puppet is a masterpiece.

"David Almond understands our needs for community. This theme, and his insights into community, is evident in all the wonderful books he has written over the years. In Puppet we too as readers feel the reassurance he has created within the story. As powerful as any he has written, poignant and heart-warming and telling. David Almond has excelled himself yet again."

Inspired by Pinocchio, David Almond has created another timeless classic… It’s tender, very moving and the delicate black-and-white drawings reflect the joy and sadness at the beginning and end of lives.

David Almond OBE is the acclaimed author of many award-winning novels for children such as Skellig, Kit's Wilderness and My Name Is Mina, and has collaborated with artists such as Polly Dunbar, Dave McKean, Alex T. Smith and Oliver Jeffers on fiction for younger readers. David's books sell all over the world, and in 2011 he was the recipient of the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award. David lives in Northumberland; for more info visit www.davidalmond.com Lizzy Stewart is an illustrator and author currently based in London. She has written and illustrated three picture books for children and three illustrated books for adults.