MR SKIP

An enchanting story about how doing a little bit of good and having faith – in a magical gnome and a very stubborn donkey – might just make your dreams come true. 'Morpurgo has the happy knack of speaking to both child and adult readers’ Guardian Jackie dreams of having a horse – one that will run like the wind and beat the boys on the estate who don’t let girls join their races. The closest she can get is her gran’s old donkey, Barnaby, and she can barely make him walk.

But then Jackie finds a magical gnome and he helps Barnaby become a racing superstar. Can the magic last, and make Jackie’s dreams come true?