A tattered scarecrow stood in the wind and rain, taking no notice . . . He meets a boy, Jack, who becomes his faithful servant, and they set out to journey to Spring Valley together. Along the way there's no end of excitement - battle and shipwreck, brigands and tricksters - and it's up to Jack time after time to save the day.

"The magic of this lies in his ability to transcend current fashions and tastes and tap into children's universal desire to understand the world they live in" * Irish Times *"It is remarkable skill to make simplicity and even silliness embrace such complexity yet offer children so much wisdom. Somehow, it's not surprising that Pullman can do it" * The Sunday Times *"The story ends as confidently as it begins, written for children with utmost respect for and delight in their intelligence, humour and imagination . . . Genius demands a continual purification and renewal of talent. Pullman has realised that and it's why he is great" * The Times *"The book is a perfectly made gem, full of fun, fireworks and wit. We continue to be lucky to have Pullman writing for us" * Guardian *"Pullman has conjured up something entirely his own: a tale of great charm and wit, told in an easy style which reads as though it all came right in the first draft. It's aimed at a lower age-level than the Dark Materials trilogy . . . older children would find themselves enjoying it too" * Independent on Sunday *