'The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse' is the Barnes & Noble book of the year

Mary Cadden, USA TODAY

What better way to find a good read than by word-of-mouth, especially from your local bookseller? More than 20,000 Barnes & Noble booksellers from around the country whittled their picks for book of the year down to eight finalists, and then voted "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse," by British illustrator Charlie Mackesy, as 2019's book of the year.

“We are pleased to announce Charlie Mackesy’s extraordinary 'The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse' as our winner,” says CEO James Daunt. “This is the book more than any other that has caught the magpie eye of our booksellers. Word of mouth amongst our booksellers has made this inspirational book the surprise bestseller of the year."

"The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse" by Charlie Mackesy
"The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse" by Charlie Mackesy

The book, written and illustrated by Mackesy, is a modern fable about life's universal lessons featuring the title's quartet of characters: a boy, a mole, a fox and a horse. According to the publisher HarperOne, the book "explores their unlikely friendship and the poignant, universal lessons they learn together" as a foursome.

It debuted on the USA TODAY best-selling books list on Oct. 31 at no. 20 and has been on the list a total of four weeks, including this week at No. 107.

More: 2019 Barnes & Noble Book of the Year finalists

More: Best books of the year so far: USA TODAY's best-reviewed titles of 2019

Here's what the booksellers have to say about their selection.

“To quote The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse: ‘Tears fall for a reason and they are your strength, not weakness.’ Need I say more? The book is spectacular. The perfect gift for anyone. Inspirational, thought-provoking and beautifully illustrated.”

—Amanda Craig, Birmingham, AL

“The boy on his journey through life, the mole who he first encounters, a fox who may not be what he first appears to be, and a horse who is hiding a secret. Every page is worthy of meditating on as you take your own journey with these characters.”

—John Carroll, Tupelo, MS

“This book touches the heart and reminds us of who we want to be and the world we want to create for ourselves and others. A beautiful book for the soul as well as the eyes.”

—Glenda Moret, Brentwood, TN

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse," by Charlie Mackesy, is the Barnes & Noble book of the year