myriobiblion books

Are you looking for a children’s book that is hugely entertaining? A bit Christmassy, a bit spooky, a bit sad, a bit funny? This children’s bedtime (or any other time) story has got it all!

It’s two days before Christmas in Aston-on-the-Mound, and Adeline and her grand-daughter Stella are out walking in the woods. They come upon a spooky, supposedly haunted tree, The Blood Oak and Stella wants to know all about the legend of how it got its name. When they get home, Adeline eventually tells the tale, despite Stella’s questions and interruptions:

It was exactly one hundred and twenty-five years ago tonight...

A missing girl. A determined police inspector. The storm of the century. A piano playing itself late at night. A diamond ring clue and a ghostly light from Ladywalk Woods that haunts the young heiress involved in the disappearance of her well-liked classmate.

The Blood Oak is perfect for reading aloud to courageous children of any age. It has some scary bits (but not too scary) and some Christmassy bits (very much Christmassy), and some of the language is rather advanced - which is why reading aloud by an adult is recommended. There is also a glossary at the back to explain the tricky bits. It takes about two to two and a half hours to read, all in all. Each chapter heading has a ’scare level’ indicator and a read time for that chapter.

The Blood Oak is a story in the vein of the classics of my childhood. It’s a bit old school in some ways and modern in others. It’s a rather genteel telling of a spooky Christmas story that doesn’t talk down to children.