About the Author

Kate Saunders has written numerous books for adults and children. Her novels for children include classics such as Beswitched, Magicalamity, The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop, The Curse of the Chocolate Phoenix, Five Children on the Western Front, and The Land of Neverendings. Kate lives in London.

Reviews

A CLIP Carnegie Medal Children's Book Award Nominee

“A delicate, funny, poignant exploration of grief, love and memory that has the welcoming warmth of an instant classic.”—The Guardian
“Deeply moving and highly imaginative.”—The Daily Mail

“Written from the heart and can’t fail to make yours sing.”—The Times, Book of the Week
 
“One of the wittiest books of the year.”—The Sunday Times
 
“Suffused with longing and dappled with humor, this novel explores the limits of grief and the lasting power of storytelling.”—Wall Street Journal
 
“From whimsical comicality to impending danger…a standalone title, in which the topic of loss is dealt with deftly. For readers willing to let their imagination soar, this fantasy may be just what they are looking for, especially if they have experienced grief.”—School Library Journal
 
“An imaginative, magical story ideal for kids experiencing loss.”—Kirkus Reviews
 
“Wise in the ways of loss as Emily discovers that the route through grief lies not in escaping to Smock­eroon but in engaging with the hard world, in the passage of time, in friendship, memory, and, above all, storytelling.”—The Horn Book, Starred Review
 
“A refreshing take on the classic theme of toys coming to life, with the residents of Smockeroon amusingly sassy and self involved. There is still plenty of warmth…while the magical elements cushion the heftier themes…A pleasing blend of sentiment and humor.”—Bulletin
 
“Saunders combines the hard reality of loss and the soft comfort of fantasy surprisingly well, offering unexpected humor in Smockeroon as well as sharp insights into human characters.”—Booklist