A lovely little tale about kindness. It reads like a fairy-tale, but the magical element is very subtle. It addresses some big issues like grief, loss, fear, abuse, and the harmful effects of gossip - but still manages to be really hopeful and whimsical. This would be a great read-aloud - the writing has a really strong lyrical/storytelling quality that draws you in and keeps you really engaged. I read it in a few hours; I could have read it in one sitting - but I was at work and kept getting interrupted.