by Jon Klassen is a masterful tale that strikes a balance between spookiness and coziness, a darker story based on a folktale that still emphasizes the warmth of friendship. The story is about Otilla, a young girl who is running away from home when she gets lost in a deep dark forest and finds an abandoned house with only one occupant: a talking skull. Surprisingly, Otilla and the skull strike up a wonderful friendship, as she helps the skull do things that he normally can’t do without a body, like dancing a waltz or drinking tea by the fire. But when the skull tells Otilla that he is being chased by a terrifying headless skeleton, she decides to use her wits and bravery to help rescue her friend. (Early Chapter Books)