Pernickety Boo

Hello,’ said the umbrella.

‘Gosh,’ said the boy. The umbrella’s handle was carved in the shape of a dog’s head, with a very long snout and a shiny nose and ears that flopped back. ‘You can talk.’

‘I suppose I can,’ said the umbrella.

‘Do you have a name?’ asked the boy.

‘No,’ said the umbrella. ‘Do I need a name?’

‘Yes,’ said the small boy. ‘You need one for someone to let you in at the front door, and another name to be let out the back door.’

Brought to life by a careless sorcerer, Pernickety Boo is a well-educated umbrella with unexplored magical powers – and after he is left behind on the London Underground by his forgetful creator, Pernickety must find an owner: someone who will truly love him.

So when Pernickety meets young Sylvie Moonshine and is welcomed into her home, he thinks that all of his prayers have been answered. But there are plenty of other people who are also interested in the magical umbrella, and who threaten to separate Pernickety from his beloved Sylvie, unless he can find a way to stop them.