THE LITTLE BROOMSTICK

First published 45 years ago, this is a beautiful new edition of Mary Stewart's beloved magical classic illustrated by Shirley Hughes. The animated film adaptation by the producer of The Tale of The Princess Kaguya - called Mary and the Witch's Flower - will come to cinemas in May 2018. 'The little broomstick gave a leap, a violent twist, a kick like the kick of a pony.'Mary's been exiled to her great-aunt, deep in the English countryside.

Miserable and lonely, she befriends strange black cat Tib who leads her deep into the forest to an ordinary looking broomstick. Before Mary can gather her wits, the broomstick jumps into action, whisking her over the treetops, above the clouds, and to the grounds of Endor College, school of witchcraft. But something is terribly wrong at Endor.

Students are taught spells that are petty and ill-wishing, and when Mary discovers evidence of a terrible and cruel experiment in transformation, she decides to leave. But the moment her broomstick takes off, she realises that Tib the cat has been captured ... Mary Stewart is the bestselling author of fourteen romantic thrillers, including the classic novelsThis Rough Magic and The Moon-Spinners, and five historical fantasy novels of Arthurian Britain.

The animated film, Mary and the Witch's Flower, will be released in 2018 by Studio Ponoc. The producer, Yoshiaki Nishimura, also produced The Tale of The Princess Kaguya and When Marnie Was There.