Knitbone Pepper and the Last Circus Tiger

LoveReading4Kids Says

Claire Barker’s Knitbone Pepper books are charming: gentle stories about a ghostly band of dearly departed pets living in a crumbling stately home, they are funny, lively and genuinely touching. There’s great excitement when a circus pitches its tents at Starcross Hall. Knitbone detects an odd scent in the big top, a mix of salt, mist and dandelion clocks, and he recognises the smell of a broken heart. Sure enough, the circus has a ghost tiger, desperate to communicate with his ‘Beloved’, former owner, the circus ringmaster. The Starcross animals come to his help, and foil a jewel thief in the process too. The setting, the motley crew of ghosts, Winnie’s eccentric parents and the perfect understanding of that special bond between pet and owner make this very special, heaven in a book for young animal fans.

Further animal reading recommendations include Dick King-Smith and particularly Martin’s Mice and the Sophie stories; Chris Riddell’s Goth Girl series is set in a stately home, abounds with eccentric adults and features ghost animals; while Lucy M Boston’s classic The Children of Green Knowe is a more challenging read but rich and rewarding.    ~ Andrea Reece

LoveReading4Kids

Find This Book In