A clockwork mouse and his father consigned to life in a junkyard are determined to become self-winding. To accomplish that, they must find a way to escape from the tyranny of Manny Rat. There’s a mysterious Last Visible Dog (spell that last word backwards), a tramp whose Christmas Eve benediction is “Be happy,” and much more. The author is the same Russell Hoban who wrote the beloved Francis books for preschoolers and the renowned novels Turtle Diary and Riddley Walker for adults. This novel has been an enormously satisfying and memorable fantasy for readers of all ages. The noted American artist David Small created the pen-and-ink drawings gracing many pages of this handsome new edition. He is quoted as claiming that this book, first published in England in 1967 and considered by some to be one of the great works of its century, is one reason he became involved in the field of children’s literature. With such appreciation for the novel’s complexities, Small developed fresh, enjoyable ways to make it visually appealing to a whole new audience. This extraordinarily elegant presentation of a classic fantasy deserves the attention of accomplished young readers today, and far into the future. (Ages 10–14)