posted on 19 Jan 2024

The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate DiCamillo, with illustrations by Julie Morstad

Much lauded U.S. children’s author, Kate DiCamillo has produced a beautifully polished gem of a story that will certainly take its place as one of the best modern fairy tales. Like all good fairy stories, it handles the big themes – love, loss, longing and aspiration – in a deceptively simple narrative which still manages to capture and hold the attention of readers of all ages.

Five puppets – a king, a wolf, a girl, a boy and an owl – are purchased from a toy shop by an old sea-captain who keeps them in a trunk with his name stencilled on the side – SPELHORST. Huddled together in the trunk, the puppets consider their lives and their longings – all of them in keeping with their puppet identities. The king is regal, the wolf obsessed with her sharp teeth, the owl makes mysteriously wise pronouncements, the boy has his bow and arrows and the girl puppet reminds the old sea captain of a lost love.

He’s a solitary old man and when he dies the trunk gets sold off to a rag-and-bone man and the puppets start to consider where their new life will be. When the trunk is sold again, a doting uncle sends it as a present to two young nieces – Martha and Emma. The trunk is opened and the puppet finds themselves sitting on a shelf above the fire in a beautiful blue room.

The puppets survey their new surroundings and start to consider their likely future. But children will be children and the puppets discover that they have to come to terms with loss, challenges to their sense of identity and disappointment but, as with many good fairy tales, they will eventually find redemption.

Ultimately, finally all back together again but not quite the same as when they arrived, they are on the move again and heading for a new life – in the company of a surprising new owner.

This is a special little book for children to read on their own but it would also make a lovely read-aloud tale to share with adults. The production values of the book – the size, the paper, the artwork and a superb jacket – are a tribute to the publisher, Walker Books and make this a joy to handle and read.

A word of praise too for the illustrator, Julie Morstad who has provided excellent black and white illustrations throughout. I’ve already mentioned the fabulous full colour jacket and there are lovely endpapers to enjoy.

The book is available now from your local independent bookshop – who will, of course, be happy to order it for you if they don’t have copies on their shelves.

 

Terry Potter

January 2024