The Clockwork Friend

The Clockwork Friend

1st edition

Paperback (11 Sep 2025)

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Publisher's Synopsis

Sometimes being unusual is awesome! The people of Middleditch have been keeping a suspicious eye on the Garlics. Marguerite Garlic is an ex-opera singer from the big city, her father, Percival, is a jazz musician, and her son, Archibald, is... is... different. When Archibald inherits a dented old trumpet, a love of music is born in the unusual boy. He discovers that when he plays, he can see the music. Each note has a colour and a pattern, kaleidoscopic in its beauty. But complaints come from all over the town about Archibald's incessant trumpeting. It's too jazzy! I'ts too noisy! It's too TRUMPETY! Seeking a place to practice his trumpet in peace, Archibald sneaks into the town clocktower and builds himself a den. It is here that he builds his masterpiece... A one-man band to wear on his back. It's perfect! But a twist of fate comes when a lightning storm rumbles-up over Middleditch and Archibald's clocktower is struck by lightning and... and... the one-man band he'd been intending to wear on his back, comes to life. Cogs... From the author of The Nothing To See Here Hotel series and Humbug: The Elf Who Saved Christmas - Steven Butler is one of our best loved storytellers.  Perfect for fans of Wall-E and The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh.  A gentle nod to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.  A story about friendship, othering and synaesthesia.

About the Publisher

Scholastic

Scholastic

Scholastic is an award-winning publisher of original children's books. Scholastic publishes more than 600 new hardcover, paperback, and novelty books each year. The list includes the phenomenally successful publishing properties Harry Potter? and Captain Underpants?, the beloved series Clifford The Big Red Dog?, Goosebumps?, The 39 Clues?, I Spy?, Bone, The Magic School Bus?, Fly Guy, Geronimo Stilton, and The Hunger Games trilogy.

Book information

ISBN: 9780702316081
Publisher: Scholastic
Imprint: Scholastic
Pub date:
Edition: 1st edition
Language: English
Number of pages: 224
Weight: -1g
Height: 198mm
Width: 129mm