The Horse Girl - Tapa dura

Freya loves horses, but her mother forbids her to go near them. So Freya decides to carve her own huge horse, secretly, in the white chalky rock on the hillside above her village. One cold winter evening when she completes the carving, a strange old woman, a gold ring and a dark, magical journey into the heart of the hill lead the way to a wonderful meeting which will heal the broken hearts of Freya's family - and bring her two unexpected birthday gifts. Miriam Moss's engrossing story, inspired by the Litlington White Horse, a chalk figure carved into Hindover Hill in East Sussex, combines with Jason Cockcroft's powerful artwork and a note on chalk carvings, to create a book that will enchant young readers everywhere.

MIRIAM MOSS was born in Aldershot, in Hampshire, and has lived in the Middle East, Africa and China. Her books include Jigsaw, The Snoops, Henry's Kite and Windswept. Arctic Song, illustrated by Adrienne Kennaway, which was her first book for Frances Lincoln, was published in 1999. It was followed by This is the Tree in 2000. JASON COCKCROFT was born and brought up in West Yorkshire, where he lives in Ilkley. He studied Fine Art at Falmouth School of Art. Jason began his career while still at art school, illustrating Helen Cresswell's Sophie and the Seawolf (Hodder, 1997). It was followed by Geraldine McCaughrean's Never Let Go (Hodder, 1998), Sally Grindley's Grandpa and Me (Dorling Kindersley, 1998) and Geraldine McCaughrean's retelling of A Pilgrim's Progress (Hodder, 1999).