A contemporary fable with Anthony Browne's unique illustrations - hard to pin down all his influences, he has a number of styles, but here it's sort of Magritte meets Rackham.

Plenty of allusions to other folktales, which makes it fun for adults as well. In an interview Browne said that the book 'was inspired by a very frightening tunnel he and his brother used to go down when they were boys'. This archetypal theme of childhood anxiety is further developed in his later book 'Lost in the Forest' (2005). Profoundly satisfying for all ages - the older you are the more you'll understand? - maybe! ( )

Once upon a time there were a brother and a sister who were so completely different and argued all the time. The brother goes down a mysterious tunnel, but the sister is too afraid to -- until she becomes worried about her brother and so braves the tunnel and the horrible wood beyond. When she finds him he has been turned to stone, but she hugs and cries over him, turning him back into human form and they escape back home -- both changed by the experience. Red Riding Hood visual sub-theme throughout.