The Clockwork Friend

The people of Middleditch have been keeping a suspicious eye on the Garlics.

Marguerite Garlic is an ex-opera singer from the big city, her father, Percival, is a jazz musician, and her son, Archibald, is... is... different.

When Archibald inherits a dented old trumpet, a love of music is born in the unusual boy. He discovers that when he plays, he can see the music. Each note has a colour and a pattern, kaleidoscopic in its beauty. But complaints come from all over the town about Archibald’s incessant trumpeting. It's too jazzy! I'ts too noisy! It's too TRUMPETY!

Seeking a place to practice his trumpet in peace, Archibald sneaks into the town clocktower and builds himself a den. It is here that he builds his masterpiece... A one-man band to wear on his back. It's perfect!

But a twist of fate comes when a lightning storm rumbles-up over Middleditch and Archibald's clocktower is struck by lightning and... and... the one-man band he'd been intending to wear on his back, comes to life. Cogs...

From the author of The Nothing To See Here Hotel series and Humbug: The Elf Who Saved Christmas - Steven Butler is one of our best loved storytellers.

• Perfect for fans of Wall-E and The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh.
• A gentle nod to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
• A story about friendship, othering and synaesthesia.