Tales from Muggleswick Wood

Reviewed By  Grasshopper2       November 5, 2024

 

Author  Vicky Cowie. Illustrations Charlie Mackesy

Distributor:      Bloomsbury Children's Books
ISBN:                 9781526671356
Publisher:         Bloomsbury Publishing
Release Date:   October 2024  

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A magical bedtime treasury

Whatever you do don’t miss reading this wonderful book Tales from Muggleswick Wood from Vicki Cowie. If you are lucky you will have a young one to share it with, but for magical moments and pure escapism, this is marvellous.

The hardback cover, with illustrations reminiscent of Winnie the Pooh, suggests a dense text, but the insightful layout of the story make it easy to read. The words glide off your tongue as all good stories should. The front pages show a section of the countryside where the stories take place.

Chapter 1 begins with ‘The magic of Muggleswick Wood’

‘Once fine autumn day,

When the leaves had turned gold,

An air of excitement was fast taking hold.’

Gran had come to visit and sat on Beth’s bed to tell her a story. The tale was charming and magical and mysterious. However, Sam, Beth’s cousin, asked Gran for a story the next night and his was about a beetle. The family were squeamish about this beetle but the boy in the story befriended out. it with an amazing outcome.

Sam’s sister Grace was told a story about Snittington Hall. Lady Plumcake was getting to old to manage the property. When the rude new owner came to inspect it Lady Plumcake explained to him that she shared the home with Brownies and there were a few things that must stay the same; this door left open, this chair just here and never any money left out. The hilarious consequences of the man refusing to adhere to her advice makes this very joyful.

The stories Gran told continue to enchant and delight the children. There is gentle humour, (when the purchaser calls the owner Lady Plumbum,) with a gentleness about the illustrations and the language.

Tales from Muggleswick Wood. would be a lifelong friend for any child