Jon, "Tom's Midnight Garden" is the most wonderful book. First heard of it when I was about 10 via BBC Children's Hour (showing my age)and have reread it at about 5 yr intervals ever since. Philippa Pearce manages to say pretty profound things about childhood, old age, loss, time. I was really sad to hear of her death a few years ago - maybe she's skating down the Cam with Tom and Barty in Heaven, hope so.