“There was a boy who used to sit in the twilight and listen to his great-aunt’s stories.” With this unassuming sentence, George MacDonald begins the story of The Golden Key,an original fairytale whose guileless characters and simple language veil ponderous depths of wonder, sorrow, and joy. The story revolves around the journey of a young girl, Tangle, and her companion, Mossy, who seeks the golden key at the end of the rainbow. The narrative itself is engaging enough to hold the attention of children, but the true enchantment of The Golden Key lies behind the words, in the magical, transcendent world that MacDonald allows the reader to glimpse.

The mystic quality with which MacDonald imbues his book is remarkable in its accessibility to even very young readers, who may surprise adults in their ability to tap into the book’s unspoken heart.

The 1967 edition is notable for its lovely, dreamlike illustrations, crafted by Maurice Sendak, a master storyteller in his own right.

Recommended for readers eight and up.