The Secret Staircase, Jill Barklem
The Secret Staircase, Jill Barklem
List: $11.99 | Sale: $8.40
Club: $5.99

The Secret Staircase

Author: Jill Barklem

Narrator: John Moffatt

Unabridged: 19 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published: 02/27/2014


Synopsis

Step into the exquisite, miniature world of the mice of Brambly Hedge in this beautiful new edition of the classic picture book. It is Midwinter’s Eve and the mice of Brambly Hedge are very busy. This evening, after dark, they will all be gathering round a blazing fire for the traditional midwinter celebrations. A grand entertainment is planned and Primrose and Wilfred have chosen to recite a poem. They go up to the attics to rehearse in pace and quiet but there are so many things to look at and places to explore, it is hard to concentrate. And when they stumble upon a dusty staircase, all thoughts of practising are put aside…

Reviews

Goodreads review by Abigail on November 06, 2018

In 1980, an English author and artist named Jill Barklem released four miniature picture-books about a close-knit community of hedgerow mice, all living, working and celebrating together. The four titles, one for each of the seasons - Spring Story, Summer Story, Autumn Story, and Wint......more

Goodreads review by Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) on December 03, 2017

The best thing about Jill Barklem's books is the illustrations. You could spend hours poring over the immense detail of the little houses, the "apartment complexes" etc. In this particular story I did notice that the scale of the plants used to decorate for the "Midwinter" celebration is necessarily......more

Goodreads review by Edith on November 04, 2015

I forgot how charming this little tale is. But what is truly captivating are the intricate illustrations, even an adult can get lost in them and fill with childlike wonder just looking at them. A true classic from my childhood, so happy to have found it again.......more

Goodreads review by Brenda on November 19, 2017

I don't know how I missed this author when our kids were little but I'm glad to have stumbled upon it. Now I want to read the first four books, about the four seasons. Jill's gorgeous illustrations remind me of Beatrice Potter's and Tasha Tudor's. The story is lovely too. A good book to read on a co......more

Goodreads review by Lisa on April 02, 2009

I’m still waiting for the Spring Brambly Hedge book, so I read this one. I did not enjoy it as much as the Summer, Autumn, and Winter books. The illustrations weren’t quite as intricate or beautiful, and these books are all about the illustrations. The stories don’t do that much for me; the illustra......more


Quotes

“…the most researched-crammed fantasy ever set before small children…” “,, and are beautiful tales…nostalgic Mums can enjoy them with their own kids” Natasha Harding,