On Tuesday Harry Potter author JK Rowling publishes her new children's book The Christmas Pig, a beautifully illustrated hardback about Jack, a boy who loses his treasured toy, a pig.
Our reviewer Janet Ellis, TV presenter, author and a mother of three herself, says it tackles some tricky issues with an enchantingly sensitive touch.
What safe hands we're in with this wonderful new story from a writer who truly understands what it is to be a child.
But who also, crucially, knows how it feels to be a grown-up with responsibility for that child's happiness.
JK Rowling's genius lies in her ability to win over the adults reading her children's books too. Because that, dear reader, is how stories become part of the fabric of a family for ever.
The Christmas Pig is the story of a little boy called Jack who has a very special comfort toy – a pig – that one day he loses.
JK Rowling (pictured) publishes her new children's book The Christmas Pig on Tuesday. Her genius lies in her ability to win over the adults reading her children's books too
An identical replacement appears, called Christmas Pig, which takes him on an adventure to the Land of the Lost.
The dedication at the front of the book is 'To David' and in the acknowledgements at the back JK Rowling gives her final thank you to her family and hints that the story was perhaps inspired by a family moment 'sitting on a sandy beach'.
She ends the dedication with this tantalising hint about the family connection to the story.
'All that remains to say is that any resemblance between the Things in these pages and the Things our family may have lost or found is, of course, entirely intentional.'
Affection for this story is guaranteed, and on so many levels.
Partly, because we all know what it's like when a child we love becomes wedded to that one special thing.
The Christmas Pig is the story of a little boy called Jack who has a very special comfort toy – a pig – that one day he loses
An identical replacement appears, called Christmas Pig, which takes him on an adventure to the Land of the Lost
For some it's a teddy bear or favourite
