Sendak is the daddy of them all when it comes to picture books - the words, the rhythm and the design are all wonderful.

The greatest picture book ever written

The key to Sendak's success and to the continuing hipness of his book, is that it's hero is not a good child . . . the book is, in fact, extraordinarily childcentric, a book written for and about terrible infants, the kind of terrible infants that most children really are and that all adults remain for much of the time

This is my never-fail picture book. The text is very short, but utterly perfect, the illustrations are tremendous

Gripping, ingenious and uplifting . . . a shrewd, fierce, healing book

A timeless masterpiece. The illustrations, the fabulous monsters, the beautiful cross-hatching, and the surreal, dreamlike narrative beckons the reader to join the adventure. The themes are perfect for inspiring discussion on confronting life's scary things, mastering your fears and being brave, letting off steam, saying goodbye, and the comfort of returning home safe and sound

An almost-perfect picture book stuffed with mischief, magic and meaning . . . Has a haunting depth that makes bedtime reading thrilling, a little scary, but also empowering

Pratchett's final work is a tour de force of compassion, great wit, and gleeful storytelling.

A worthy crown to Terry Pratchett’s phenomenal artistic achievement.

The last Discworld offering is a poignant farewell, both to Pratchett's readership and to his extraordinary world.

As ever in Pratchett's work, empathy and compassion are foregrounded. With its humour and humaneness, it reminds us, too, that its author, as Tiffany says of her deceased friend, 'is . . . was . . . unfollowable.'

Something to treasure

Funny, sad and extremely moving . . . most will likely consider it one of the strongest, and certainly one of the most – possibly the most – moving [of the Discworld novels].