The Decemberists' Colin Meloy will bring his knack for imaginative, dramatic storytelling to the printed page when his first children's book, Wildwood, hits stores on August 30th. The book, which is written by Meloy and illustrated by his wife Carson Ellis, tells the story of a  young girl who goes on a quest to save her brother from a murder of sinister crows. According to the Decemberists' website, the fantasy tale is set in "a world full of warring creatures, peaceable mystics, and powerful figures with the darkest intentions."

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The first four chapters of Wildwood are currently available as a free download for those who click "like" on the novel's Facebook page. The opening pages reveal a book with the usual whimsy of a children's book, but with the charming, old-timey aesthetic of the Decemberists. Though Meloy has posted a playlist of songs including numbers by Led Zeppelin and Fairport Convention to accompany the book, he has not released any original music in connection to the project.

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