The Scarecrow and His Servant

Product Description
This is a wonderful new tale of two friends: a scarecrow made of straw and turnip, and his servant, a clever little boy named Jack. Their journey of discovery takes them into hilarious situations and terrifying dangers, but Jack’s common sense always saves the day. This fantastic story of friendship and love is the first book for younger readers from Philip Pullman since ‘I Was A Rat’, and his first full-length book since ‘The Amber Spyglass’.

Review
It is remarkable skill to make simplicity and even silliness embrace such complexity yet offer children so much wisdom. Somehow, it’s not surprising that Pullman can do it. – The Sunday Times. The story ends as confidently as it begins, written for children with utmost respect for and delight in their intelligence, humour and imagination… Genius demands a continual purification and renewal of talent. Pullman has realised that and it’s why he is great. – The Times. Pullman is probably incapable of writing a bad book. His touch is so sure, his plotting so flawless that you know a new Pullman means a rare treat…. Ultimately, this book works because, like all the best stories, it somehow reconnects the reader with a sense of humanity. – The Glasgow Herald. The book is a perfectly made gem, full of fun, fireworks and wit. We continue to be lucky to have Pullman writing for us. – The Guardian. Pullman has conjured up something entirely his own: a tale of great charm and wit, told in an easy style which reads as though it all came right in the first draft. It’s aimed at a lower age-level than the ‘Dark Materials’ trilogy; a fluent reader of eight would enjoy it and it would be great fun to read aloud to a younger child; but the quality of the ideas and the jokes, and the irresistibly likeable character of the Scarecrow, mean that older children would find themselves enjoying it too. – The Independent on Sunday. Written to be enjoyed at many different levels, this book will appeal to a wide age range. – The Bookseller.