Kindle
$9.20
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Hardcover
$13.31
Audio CD
$21.99
Buy new:
-33% $13.31
FREE delivery Thursday, May 16 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$13.31 with 33 percent savings
List Price: $19.99

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Thursday, May 16 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 12 hrs 16 mins
In Stock
$$13.31 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$13.31
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day easy returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$11.04
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
Little to no damage on cover or pages. Minor packaging damage observed during inspection. Little to no damage on cover or pages. Minor packaging damage observed during inspection. See less
FREE delivery Tuesday, May 21 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$13.31 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$13.31
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Jon Klassen
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale Hardcover – July 11, 2023

by Jon Klassen (Author, Illustrator)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 512 ratings
Editors' pick Best Children's Books of 2023
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$13.31","priceAmount":13.31,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"13","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"31","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"ixI1%2BdFI3Z5NY7gY%2F8aFvyQLBQikU9AzVTo8QDj8o9%2B5%2BLdiUgRAm3n%2Bq6cv42v1kIGyvzzfOrrE2sQWlHoXeVaYBknot6lsgztO%2FmSl1%2BrnsMHuVqF6WuX0TKZJpmRmzZkZFlac1o95HHgI%2BN%2BW8A%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$11.04","priceAmount":11.04,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"11","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"04","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"ixI1%2BdFI3Z5NY7gY%2F8aFvyQLBQikU9AzmEjDv6MnI2Hw80LBXIMGxvtxOzpS6eOevYfmHQ%2B%2B%2BeotrnlzgPFk7rBnnuQBhPNSoa0jR9WvbIm190whKKGfQ4HqAk5GV6kNPvsJOyoE8aAKh5oLaPpk%2BNzZ8gPgQVvL6BAobStkTAoufwt19tyC28cg4bfuBfMe","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

A #1 New York Times bestseller!
A Kirkus Book Prize Finalist!
A New York Times Best Children’s Chapter Book the Year
A Wall Street Journal Best Children's Book of the Year

Caldecott Medalist and New York Times best-selling author-illustrator Jon Klassen delivers a deliciously macabre treat for folktale fans.

Jon Klassen's signature wry humor takes a turn for the ghostly in this thrilling retelling of a traditional Tyrolean folktale. In a big abandoned house, on a barren hill, lives a skull. A brave girl named Otilla has escaped from terrible danger and run away, and when she finds herself lost in the dark forest, the lonely house beckons. Her host, the skull, is afraid of something too, something that comes every night. Can brave Otilla save them both? Steeped in shadows and threaded with subtle wit—with rich, monochromatic artwork and an illuminating author’s note—The Skull is as empowering as it is mysterious and foreboding.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    4+ years, from customers
  2. Print length
    112 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    1 - 4
  5. Dimensions
    6.25 x 0.75 x 8.25 inches
  6. Publisher
    Candlewick
  7. Publication date
    July 11, 2023
  8. ISBN-10
    1536223360
  9. ISBN-13
    978-1536223361
  10. See all details
Next page
New in teachers' picks. More children's books by grade. New in teachers' picks. More children's books by grade.

Frequently bought together

The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale
$13.31
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Rock from the Sky
$10.59
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
$11.36
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Choose items to buy together.

From the Publisher

picture book, spooky, Halloween, mystery, folktale, friendship, support

picture book, spooky, Halloween, mystery, folktale, friendship, support

picture book, spooky, Halloween, mystery, folktale, friendship, support

picture book, spooky, Halloween, mystery, folktale, friendship, support

thriller; runaway; halloween; ghostly; friendship; folktale; fairy tales; macabre; adventure
thriller; runaway; halloween; ghostly; friendship; folktale; fairy tales; macabre; adventure
funny; siblings; adventure; buried treasure; digging; imagination space exploration; existential; fate; friendship; mystery hats; bears; deadpan humor; lost and found; silly; stealing; thief; animals funny; consequences; fish; ocean; stealing; theft; deadpan humor humor; turtles; friendship; sharing; stealing; dreaming
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole The Rock from the Sky I Want My Hat Back This Is Not My Hat We Found a Hat
Customer Reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars
1,519
4.7 out of 5 stars
699
4.7 out of 5 stars
5,029
4.7 out of 5 stars
2,252
4.8 out of 5 stars
804
Price $12.00 $10.59 $6.99 $8.56 $10.99
Read more from the bestselling author! A 2015 Caldecott Honor Book! Sam and Dave are on a mission to find something spectacular. So they dig a hole. And they find... nothing. Yet the day turns out to be pretty spectacular after all. The instant #1 New York Times bestseller! Here comes a hilarious meditation on the workings of friendship, fate, shared futuristic visions, and that funny feeling you get that there’s something off somewhere, but you just can’t put your finger on it. An award-winning bestseller! The bear’s hat is gone, and he wants it back. Patiently and politely, he asks the animals he comes across whether they have seen it. Each animal says no, some more elaborately than others. A picture-book delight. The 2013 Caldecott Medal winner! When a tiny fish shoots into view wearing a round blue topper (which happens to fit him perfectly), trouble could be following close behind. So it’s a good thing that enormous fish won’t wake up. The hilarious sequel! Hold on to your hats for the conclusion of the celebrated hat trilogy by Caldecott Medalist Jon Klassen. Two turtles have found a hat. The hat looks good on both of them. But there are two turtles. And there is only one hat...

Editorial Reviews

Review

Folk tales are meant to be flexible things, open-source stories infinitely moldable to the needs of teller and era. That’s the wonder of them — and of “The Skull,” an old Tyrolean yarn distilled to its droll essentials and marvelously reimagined by the Caldecott medalist (and national treasure) Jon Klassen. . . The pared-back, ocher-tinted illustrations are well suited to the folk-tale form, and pair perfectly with Klassen’s deceptively simple storytelling.
—The New York Times Book Review

Caldecott medalist Klassen’s signature style is brought to bear on a Tyrolean tale imbued with equal parts comfort and creepiness. . . . One can only hope that children will tell and retell this reinterpretation many times to themselves throughout the years. Employing his customary pitch-perfect tonal gymnastics, only Klassen could inspire readers to want craniums as pals.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Echoes of other forbidding fairy tales pervade this high-stakes telling, in which Otilla’s primal bravery and sly wit result in an arc from flight to mutual reliance.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Klassen’s recognizable graphite-and-ink illustrations capture the haunting—yet somehow charming—atmosphere of the stark Austrian setting, where shadows loom, bones come to life, and apricot sunshine cuts through the gloom. . . . Is the story creepy? You bet, but it’s also weirdly sweet and characterized by agency, kindness, and choice. . . . Klassen's newest offering will be highly coveted.
—Booklist (starred review)

Klassen has proved especially good at introducing new, often solo, young readers to the unsettling but intriguing place where fear becomes an essential narrative element, offering enough humor and absurdity to provide comfort on the journey. Such is the case with The Skull, a reimagining of a Tyrolean folktale that shows a young girl’s resolve against unnamed, unexplained threats. . . . the book offers a lesson on the usefulness of fear and likely a reminder of what kids already suspect: the world can be awful and scary, but empathy and friendship can arise from its darkest places.
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

Unflappable Otilla and the unfailingly polite skull make for odd but exemplary companions in this well-paced tale. . . . illustrated in classic, deadpan Klassen style with speckled art that’s both mesmerizing and dryly hilarious. The dark tones of the art are warmed by slants of peach-hued winter sunlight; like the scary-funny story, darkness and light work in tandem ­surprisingly well.
—The Horn Book (starred review)

Author/illustrator Jon Klassen takes an especially dark turn in an unconventional folk tale for hardy early readers, The Skull, a morbid yet profoundly affectionate chapter book about a girl and her bony companion. . . .The gripping art melds brilliantly with emotionally hefty text to strike an overwhelmingly eerie and foreboding tone, which plays in exquisite contrast to the blooming solidarity between Otilla and the skull. . . . Make no bones about it, this is a wholly distinctive and delightfully unsettling creation.
—Shelf Awareness (starred review)

Readers can enjoy a quick read, the implementation of interesting literary elements, and the humor that we have come to know from Klassen.
—School Library Connection

[A] droll and delicious tale. . . Any disquiet that children ages 6-10 might harbor about a talking skull will dissipate in the light of the skull’s friendly attitude and gracious manners.
—The Wall Street Journal

Gifted author-illustrator Jon Klassen offers a wonderfully eerie version of an old folktale, illustrated with his distinctive somber graphite and ink artwork in black and white and muted tones of sepia, rose and blue and printed in large type with short chapters that should appeal to beginning readers.
—The Buffalo News

Jon Klassen brings his droll humor and just the right amount of spine-tingling creepiness to this retelling of a Tyrolean folktale. . . . Klassen uses his spare text to great effect and the mostly monochromatic illustrations provide just the right eerie echo. This is a book sure to be read over and over and over again. Even the most reluctant reader will be eager to keep these pages turning.
—The New York Journal of Books

This delightfully dark picture book retells a Tyrolean folk tale of the same name. . . . This is a longer-than-average picture book — much like Klassen’s previous picture book The Rock from the Sky — with Klassen’s trademark dark humor. . . . Fairy tale and horror readers of all ages will love it.
—Book Riot

About the Author

Jon Klassen is the creator of the #1 New York Times best-selling I Want My Hat Back, which won a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor, and its companions: This Is Not My Hat, which won a Caldecott Medal and a Kate Greenaway Medal, and We Found a Hat, named a Publishers Weekly Best Children’s Book of the Year. He is also the author-illustrator of The Rock from the Sky and the illustrator of Extra Yarn, Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, Triangle, Square, and Circle, all by Mac Barnett; House Held Up by Trees by Ted Kooser; the Skunk and Badger series by Amy Timberlake; and the middle-grade Pax series by Sara Pennypacker. Originally from Niagara Falls, Ontario, Jon Klassen now lives in Los Angeles.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Candlewick (July 11, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 112 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1536223360
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1536223361
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4+ years, from customers
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 1 - 4
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 0.75 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 512 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Jon Klassen

Jon Klassen

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Jon Klassen is a Canadian-born author/illustrator. He has written and illustrated three picture books of his own and illustrated many other author’s texts. His own books are called I Want My Hat Back, This Is Not My Hat and We Found A Hat. Highlights of his illustrated books are Sam & Dave Dig A Hole by Mac Barnett, The Dark by Lemony Snicket, and his latest is The Wolf, The Duck & The Mouse also by Mac Barnett. His books have won a Caldecott medal and two Caldecott honors and other international awards.

He lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife and son.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
512 global ratings
A fun spooky book!
5 Stars
A fun spooky book!
Fun, cute with a touch of spooky that I enjoy and so does my son! Another Jon Klassen book to add to our collection!
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Alejandra Norato
5.0 out of 5 stars A fun spooky book!
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2024
Verified Purchase
Fun, cute with a touch of spooky that I enjoy and so does my son! Another Jon Klassen book to add to our collection!
Customer image
Alejandra Norato
5.0 out of 5 stars A fun spooky book!
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2024
Fun, cute with a touch of spooky that I enjoy and so does my son! Another Jon Klassen book to add to our collection!
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
Helpful
 Report
natimp
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2024
Verified Purchase
Loved the story, message of friendship, suspense…my 7 and 5 year old weren’t scared either
Helpful
 Report
Charlene P.
5.0 out of 5 stars Quirky and deep
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2023
Verified Purchase
My 8 yr old daughter loved this book! I’m a big fan of Klassen’s hat trilogy, so I decided to order this when I saw it. I read it to my daughter at bedtime, and she immediately told me that she loved it, and asked if she could read it back to me. I like that it is a straight forward and easy read, but it leaves so much room for thought and discussion.

The actual quality of the book is great, and this is sure to become a well loved classic in my household.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
asm35
4.0 out of 5 stars cute little folktale
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2024
Verified Purchase
Otilla runs away from home and stumbles upon an old house with a skull. Darling illustrations and a cute story.
Helpful
 Report
Honest reviewer.
5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet story with a little spook!
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2023
Verified Purchase
I read this story to my toddler (3) during the spooky season. She loved it! I love how the story teaches children in a sort of way, to not fear things. In the story the little girl and the skull comfort each other. The little girl is also very able bodied and brave. And takes care of things herself. A great adventure in a sense as well. Great book to teach children confidence and bravery. Also super cute how the skull and the child understand each other and help each other out. 💀🤍✨
Helpful
 Report
Brandie
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this story!
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2023
Verified Purchase
Our family is a fan of this author and have several of his books. This is definitely my favorite though! Cute story, adorable illustrations, a little creepy and weird. Perfect for or Halloween year round family!
Helpful
 Report
Mrs. W
5.0 out of 5 stars Great quality book but Scary story - beware
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2024
Verified Purchase
The story is actually quite scary. My son was like “why did you get me this?” We joke about it now at least.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Holly Rose
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book for Spooky Kids (and Adults)
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2023
Verified Purchase
I don’t have young children but I fell in love with Jon Klassen’s illustrations from when I did. I pre-ordered The Skull and read it the moment it arrived.
A few things to note:
-it is long for a picture book (I loved…lots of pictures)
-as if the title of the book doesn’t give it away, it is a little creepy. If your child likes spooky things this is a great book. It isn’t scary scary but there is a skull, a skeleton, mild violence.
-it might just be me but it reminds me of the book Three Robbers which was a favorite of mine growing up. Use of a limited color palette and a “dark” theme for a children’s book probably is why I draw the connection.

If you like Jon Klassen’s illustrations (they are stunning throughout the book) and like a cozy little mystery this is a great choice.
5 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Armando
5.0 out of 5 stars Historia macabra
Reviewed in Mexico on November 12, 2023
Verified Purchase
Perfecta para niños y adultos ratos.
Report
Neringa
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 10, 2024
Verified Purchase
Such a beautiful story, my son absolutely loved it. We ended up reading it over and over again.
Report
Priyanka
5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Purchase
Reviewed in India on March 20, 2024
Verified Purchase
Got it delivered on time with no damages.
Report
Manuela
5.0 out of 5 stars A gorgeous, spooky read with lovely illustrations
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 31, 2023
Verified Purchase
A little girl, Otilla, is running away through the woods and she comes across a castle with a very unusual inhabitant – a skull. The skull is rather hospitable, but also afraid of something…

I can’t divulge more, because the story is short and I don’t want to spoil it. It is spooky and slightly macabre, in a way I feel will appeal to the target audience, but also sweet, and cosy, and beautiful. Oh, my God, is it beautiful! Jon Klassen does the illustrations himself and the ones in this book are gorgeous. The colour palette is stunning and the composition and perspective are honestly breathtaking.

On his Instagram page jonklassen shows some of the process he used for the perspective in those images – by using Lego structures, which was really cool to see. 🏰

The story itself is written in a simple language that sometimes also introduces humour to the story, and I liked how it added another layer to it. In the afterword, the author explains that it is his take on an old Tyrolean folktale he once read in Alaska, and he shares a lovely anecdote about the power of librarians!

I have read the original tale, and whilst Klassen’s version is definitely darker, I revel in the beauty of his illustrations and how his take doesn’t necessarily focus on the why and how, but on the moods and feelings of the characters.

This was definitely a stand-out read for me this year!
4 people found this helpful
 Report
Steph
4.0 out of 5 stars Jon Klassen hits it out the park!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 11, 2023
Verified Purchase
This was fascinating. A folk tale of darkness, friendship, a skull, a young girl and a mysterious house. What Otilla does to the skeleton made me go ‘ha’. What a kid she is. Obviously Jon Klassen’s incredible illustrations add so many levels to this!
Report