Strange Tales in the Dales
by Irene Lofthouse
A collection of stories for 7-11s
Walk with Georgie and Joe as time shifts, gryphons fly and gargoyles come to life. Share supper with Jamila, Nan and the housekeeper who doesn't know she's dead. Discover the Dalesman who's haunted by deaths. Join Jenna on her journey north with sightings of the headless hound. Travel by train with Jack and the friendly but sad spectre. Ride with the headless horseman to the Inhospitable Inn.
Author Irene mixes original stories with re-imaginings, and re-tellings to bring the landscape, buildings and legends of Swaledale, Wensleydale and Richmondshire alive.
'Readers can take a picnic and have an amble around the Dales to visit the sites of these stories,' says Irene. 'It's a fabulous landscape that has so many tales to tell, and here are a few that inspired me. I'd really like it if readers let me know which they liked the best.'
The stories are accompanied by fun activities, a description of what inspired Irene to write the stories. This is the first in the Strange Tales series and readers will get a taster of the opening story in Book 2 'Strange Tales in Bradford Dale'.
“The stories are really exciting and you never know what's going to happen next.” Daisy, 7
Just brilliant. The best praise I can give this book is not that it is wildly imaginative (which it is), or that the stories are just the perfect length for kids to read at a single sitting (which they are), or that the tales themselves are exciting and superbly written (which they are). The best praise I can give it is that it turned my 12 year old son, previously a reluctant reader, into an avid reader who not only devoured the book in double-quick time, but then asked if there were any more books like this that he could read. That's some achievement, believe me, and we'll be first in the queue for Strange Tales Vol 2.” Mark, Australia
Price: £5.99 plus £2.00 p&p
Cover and illustrations by papercutter artist Clare Lindley: www.papercuttergirl.co.uk
Publisher: Gizmo Publications Paperback: ISBN 978-1-900827-53-9
'Jenna as brave with the headless dog. It was an exciting story.' Ruby, 8, 'Second Sight'
'That was well spooky.' Matthew, 11 'The Headless Horseman'
'Loved the book, by the way. I read half of it in bed the other night and was really spooked!!' Emma Clayton, journalist
'[Your book} looks great and definitely fills a gap in the market for local myths and legends.' Caroline Brown,
Local Studies Manager
Clare Lindley
Clare's papercuts have been exhibited across the UK, have sold internationally and she has been short-listed for design awards. Work can be purchased from her on-line gallery www.arttarts.co.uk