The Skull

“When she was done crying, she got up and began moving forward again.”

I liked this more than I thought I would! Klassen's interpretation strikes the perfect tone, weaving together a simple yet also sweet and spooky (sorry for the alliteration, but those are all the correct adjectives) folktale. Any coworkers reading, no one else take it for Staff Picks. I want to use it for Staff Picks.

Otilla is an incredible protagonist, who knows exactly what she is about. Themes of found family, problem solving, and finding closure all abound. Oh my gosh, when they're tucked into bed together? Unbelievably cute.

The illustrations remind me of [b:Through the Woods|18659623|Through the Woods|Emily Carroll|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1414845473l/18659623.SX50.jpg|26477611], [b:The One Hundred Nights of Hero|28433627|The One Hundred Nights of Hero|Isabel Greenberg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506013534l/28433627.SX50.jpg|48547479], and [b:The Dark|15790852|The Dark|Lemony Snicket|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1350766092l/15790852.SX50.jpg|21512407]. This is a perfect time of year to pick this one up!