The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale

Paperback Published on: 10/09/2026
Price: £7.99
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Published 10/09/2026
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Coming soon
Published 10/09/2026
No stock available in any shop.

Bookseller Reviews

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The Skull
Breathtakingly Beautiful. A Folk Tale of Fierce Loyalty
Jon Klaasen is a boundary breaking author/ illustrator who never fails to tap into the strangeness, curiosity, joy and defiance of everybody's inner child.... READ MORE
Jo at TCR
The Skull
Creepy and wonderful
Like all the best old fairy tales this story left me with such an unsettled feeling. The writing and the pictures have a stark quality to them. The fir... READ MORE
Eilish from Rustington
The Skull
A perfect spooky read for Halloween!
A spectacularly spooky read that has it all. Simultaneously heart-warming and emotional and laugh-out-loud funny, this gothic story is coupled with beautif... READ MORE
Libby Low
The Skull
Blank wide-eyed stares and skulls galore
A great little creepy read. Read at the insistence of the same friend who recommended Godfather Death, it's a fantastic short winter read. I know so many ... READ MORE
Tamara Acarali

Synopsis

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

Publisher information

  • Publisher: Walker Books Ltd
  • ISBN: 9781529531053
  • Number of pages: 112
  • Dimensions: 203 x 152 mm
  • Weight: 270g
  • Languages: English

Customer Reviews

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The Skull
Beautiful book
When Otilla runs away, she travels through a dense forest before coming across a house that looks abandoned. When she knocks on the door, Otilla discovers ... READ MORE
Schizanthus  Nerd
The Skull
An eerie, dark folktale about a little girl who has run away into the woods, and finds a big house, and in it lives a scared and lonely skull
The Kids Books Curator
The Skull
Blank wide-eyed stares and skulls galore
A great little creepy read. Read at the insistence of the same friend who recommended Godfather Death, it's a fantastic short winter read. I know so many a... READ MORE
Tamara Acarali
The Skull
Kooky
If you're looking for the most intriguing read of the year then it's right here. Not only intriguing but eerily, kooky yet warm and gentle in the most dis... READ MORE
Busy Busy Learning