The Clock Struck Twelve

Ninochka, the fairy dancer, should have been so happy. She had the love of Yaaling, a faithful frog, and the devotion of a crippled mouse, a grasshopper, a beetle and a caterpillar. But her beautiful wings were broken by the frog who loved her so much, and unless she endured a terrible voyage, she would never dance again... And what did the elf king under the mountain need to make him happy? Why did he send his second son through the four seasons to look for a nameless treasure? In Paul Biegel's magical, moving story - translated from the Dutch original, Twaalf Sloeg De Klok - the poor lovesick frog who caused Ninochka's sorrows is the one who braves death to bring the king his treasure in the end.