Even encountering these Brambly Hedge books for the first time as an adult, I am still charmed. How thrilling, to find a hidden staircase! How delightful the hidden apartment, with all its promise of secret play, would have seemed! How I would have loved the costumes that Primrose and Wilfred discover, the settings for their adventures, and the entire cozy world being depicted! The great baronial hall would have been a particular treat, I think. How I wish I had discovered these books - and especially The Secret Staircase! - as a young girl! I would have adored them, and most likely would have read them over and over again. Three years later, in 1983, Barklem released this fifth title, in which Primrose Woodmouse and Wilfred Toadflax discover a secret and long forgotten "apartment" at the top of Old Oak Palace, while searching for a place to rehearse for the recital they are to give for the great Midwinter Ball. The four titles, one for each of the seasons - Spring Story, Summer Story, Autumn Story, and Winter Story - were an immediate hit, with their charmingly detailed illustrations and engaging characters and stories, and won a devoted coterie of fans. In 1980, an English author and artist named Jill Barklem released four miniature picture-books about a close-knit community of hedgerow mice, all living, working and celebrating together.
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