Autumn is disappearing. And an old scarecrow has decided to do something about it. For longer than anyone can remember, Old Barleybones has stood quietly in his field above the little village of Little Wick. Then, one October night, he climbs down. Something is terribly wrong with the countryside. Frost is arriving weeks too early. Leaves are dying before they can turn red and gold. Apples refuse to ripen. Birds are flying the wrong way, and the first breath of winter is already creeping through the hedgerows. Worst of all, the Twelve Autumn Things are disappearing. The first red leaf. The last blackberry. A spider's silver web. The smell of woodsmoke. The harvest moon. The October rain. The first Halloween lantern... Without them, autumn cannot finish as it should. Joined by Colin, a brave young hedgehog with a habit of getting involved in things his mother would strongly disapprove of, and Corbin, an extremely pessimistic crow who considers most adventures unnecessary, Barleybones sets off across an autumnal countryside of forgotten orchards, moonlit rivers, ancient woods and lonely hills. But the farther they travel, the colder the world becomes. Something has awakened beyond the Northward Hills. An ancient bell has been rung. Winter's Door is beginning to open. And Halloween is running out of time. BARLEYBONES is a warm, funny and beautifully autumnal storybook adventure filled with woodland creatures, old folklore, glowing turnip lanterns, mysterious roads and the particular sort of magic that can only be found in October. Perfect for readers who love cosy countryside adventures, classic British children's stories and tales best enjoyed while the wind rattles the windows and the leaves gather outside the door.
