The Secret Staircase

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

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

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

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

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