Lob

Costa Children's Book Prize winnder Linda Newbery, with the vivid embroidery of Pam Smy's illustrations, has conjured a real green man right out of the woods and stories of legend.

He's older than anyone can tell. Older than the trees. Older than anybody.

For as long as she can remember, Lucy has wanted to catch a glimpse of the mysterious green man who lives in Grandpa Will's garden: Lob.

You have to be very special to see him; that's what Grandpa says. Lucy's parents think Lob's just imaginary, but Lucy knows he exists. And she can't believe it when she finally spots Lob in the gooseberry bushes.

But Lucy's world is about to be shattered by a terrible event. What will happen to Lob now—and will she ever see him again?

"An exquisite novel for the more sensitive seven to nine-year-olds" —Sunday Telegraph

"One of the most gifted writers around must surely be Linda Newbery and Lob, her latest novel for younger readers, is the kind of book that will inspire in children a deep love of nature and in adults a yearning for the wonderment of childhood" —Independent on Sunday

"Linda Newbery tells her story beautifully, evoking empathy and emotion without ever straying into sentimentality" —The Scotsman

"The mystical and beautiful fable is one of my favourite titles of this year" —The Bookseller