It's been a little while since I last read a story by Sally Gardner and it was so lovely to be back in her magical world for younger readers. It's funny and charming, inventive and exciting. Hugely recommend her books and this is a real treat.

Pernickety Boo is an intelligent and articulate umbrella. He was given his magical powers by a careless sorcerer who subsequently left him on the London Underground.

Pernickety wants to find a new owner, someone who will look after him and appreciate his special powers.

He meets a young girl called Sylvie Moonshine and goes home with her, thinking his problems are solved. But plenty of people have spotted this magical umbrella and would like to have him to themselves so Pernickety and Sylvie have to find a way to thwart their efforts to capture him.

This is a really lovely book that is suitable for early readers, aged seven upwards, but it's also perfect to be read aloud.