Mister Skip - Tapa blanda

A witty, contemporary ‘fairy-tale’ by this prize-winning author. Launch title in Collins new younger fiction series, ROARING GOOD READS.

Set in Dublin where horses run wild in the fields near the tower blocks, Jackie watches the boys on the estate ride their horses and she longs to own her own horse. All Jackie has is her Gran's old donkey Barnaby, who is a stubborn as...a mule! One day, whilst rummaging in an old skip, Jackie finds a broken garden gnome whom she restores back to his former glory and gives to her Mum for her birthday. Much to her astonishment, Mr Skip talks to Jackie! Because she gave him a new lease of life, he is going to help make her dreams come true. Her wish is, of course, for her donkey to 'run like a racehorse'. Jackie challenges the boys to a race and, at first, Barnaby just refused to move. Then, she whispers the magic words into his ear – 'Do it for Mister Skip' and Barnaby tears away and wins the race. Fame and...almost fortune...come Jackie's way, with TV appearances, a film-deal and a promised million 'smackaroos'. But can Barnaby, the Superdonk, win the Irish Derby? Can Mister Skip work his magic till the very end? He does, but in a sensible, practical way. Barnaby doesn’t win the Irish Derby – a donkey couldn’t really, now could it? But Jackie’s mum has negotiated a film and book deal, and with the money buys a little house in the country. And there they set up a Pixie Park where everyone sends their broken garden gnomes... all lovingly restored... with Mister Skip in pride of place. A lovely, warm happy ending.

This is an enchanting, modern fairytale from this prize-winning author.

'"I'll put you together again. And Mum and me, we'll look after you, alright?"'

Jackie wants a horse of her own, one that'll be the fastest on the estate, the fastest in all Ireland and the fastest in the world. Mum wants a little cottage in the country for her and Jackie to live in. What they get is a garden gnome that Jackie finds in a rubbish skip:one she lovingly repairs and paints; a gnome she calls Mister Skip. And Jackie soon discovers that with Mister Skip, anything is possible!

A fairytale for today from a master storyteller