The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale

A young girl carrying a large skull meets a monstrous figure on the road who wants to take it from her, but she refuses to give it up, leading to a darkly comic confrontation. A picture book retelling of a Tyrolean folktale with Klassen's signature minimalist art and dark humor.

Content Ratings

No Romance

There is no romantic content; the story is a folktale confrontation between a girl and a monster.

Light Themes

The girl must stand her ground against a frightening figure; themes of courage, determination, and not giving in to bullies are central; the tone is darkly comic and ultimately empowering.

Mild Violence

The monster is threatening and wants to take the skull from the girl; the confrontation is tense but resolved without graphic violence; the tone is darkly humorous and folkloric.