Harklights

Product Information

Wick must prove himself to the Hobs and help them solve a serious problem that is threatening to destroy their homes and maybe even their entire species. It would have been a good way to tie-in an origin story of Old Ma Bogey and why she kidnapped the creatures. En dat terwijl we net hebben geleerd dat de Hobbs, het kleine volkje dat de kinderen komt redden, twee onbreekbare regels kent voor de Woudwachters: Bescherm het woud en Schaadt nooit iets levends. A great debut novel with bountiful illustrations for each important scene, illustrated by the author as well!

This book is a beautifully illustrated, magical adventure which teaches empathy towards the natural world and is an ideal extra-curriculum read to stimulate discussion about man’s relationship with the environment.Charmingly written and imbued with a vital, heartfelt message, this is a story sure to settle in the heart of anyone who has ever stood and breathed in the beauty of a forest or marvelled at a spell-binding sunset. When Wick escapes to the dangerous ‘outside’ he is adopted by the Hobs, tiny people who live a green life and devote themselves to looking after the forest and everything that lives in it. With this there is a sudden spark of intrigue and magic that then continues to build with Wick’s discovery of a tiny acorn, which is in fact a beautifully made cradle with a tiny live baby inside! However, the reader soon learns that there is more than meets the eye at this dark, dreary and lifeless institution. Wick, the orphan, were forced to make matches in Harklights, the orphanage, run by the horrible, greedy lady, Old Ma Bogey.

But it is not only about that, it is also about friendship and family, and about courage when you are standing with fear and feel small. Harklights is an utterly enchanting adventure that sends out a pure and powerful message that no matter how small you are in this world , you have a power, responsibility and influence over protecting the natural world around you.

Harklights by Tim Tilley is a heartwarming Middle Grade read with an environmental message that goes straight to the readers' hearts.

For me, a big kid, this was just a really lovely read, we follow Wick, who is a boy in an Orphanage, who day in day out is made to box up matches and only gets fed 3 meals of porridge each day. I highly recommend getting this book for young children; not only will they enjoy it but they will remember the message and carry it with them. Yet there have always been books like this - way back to the Little Grey Men, through Watership Down and The Animals of Farthing Wood - so this new explosion is sometimes more stylistic than thematic. In fact, as I had a proof copy, my one regret is that I did not see all the illustrations, as they are beautifully rendered in black and white.What a mighty message from so many delicately made moments in our amazing Children's Book of the month for May. From this the story begins to lead us away from the darkness, and towards a tale of warmth and wonder, as Wick is faced with the opportunity of a lifetime – a way to escape from Harklights. Wick wants to protect the Hobs and their home from the Monster and decides that he will do whatever it takes to protect them. In some ways it's the refinement of this wave of admirable novels tackling environmental themes over the past decade. Unfortunately for Harklights, I read it at the end of a long selection of eco-adventures for young children and I was, perhaps, a little jaded with the genre.