Why read The Skull?

Book cover of The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale

Book description

A #1 New York Times bestseller!

Caldecott Medalist and New York Times best-selling author-illustrator Jon Klassen delivers a deliciously macabre treat for folktale fans.

Jon Klassen's signature wry humor takes a turn for the ghostly in this thrilling retelling of a traditional Tyrolean folktale. In a big abandoned house, on…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked The Skull as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Lenny Wen

Author

When I first saw the book cover, I instantly knew I should get it. Like all other books by Jon Klasse, this one is also a masterpiece. The story is unsettling and weird in a good way, completely different from any children’s book I’ve read.

The art is gorgeous, with Jon Klassen’s trademark: limited palette, desaturated tone, heavy textures, simple shapes, and unique lighting. The book’s format is also interesting; it’s like a hybrid of a short early reader novel with a picture book.

From Lenny's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Paul V. Allen

Author

Jon Klassen is my favorite current children’s book illustrator and author.

With The Skull he adapts a folktale from Tyrol to tell the story of an unlikely friendship. Not only is the book by turns creepy and funny, it’s fantastically drawn and it has a cool origin story (which Klassen illuminates in his author’s note, so I won’t spoil it).

From Paul's 3 favorite reads in 2023.