Living in the mountains, eight-year-old Tomas prefers to be in the fields or playing in waterfalls than being in school or stuck indoors. One day his mother insists that he goes to the library to listen to a story. Tomas isn't keen but when he sees children gathered around a life-size model of a unicorn, he is intrigued. The storytelling lady tells the children about how the unicorn was carved by Noah when he realised he had no unicorns on the ark. She also tells them why The Little Match Girl is her favourite book. Then one day war comes to the village and threatens to destroy everything they hold dear.

I don't think I've found a book by Michael Morpurgo that doesn't make me cry but I thought this would be sentimental twaddle and I hardened myself. However, the book didn't read as I expected and, as usual, had many different layers, all equally powerful and poignant. It's a book to treasure for the magic of libraries, books, storytelling, community and family. A wonderful, wonderful little book.