Jeanne Willis: 38 books

"Good morning, class. Today we are going to learn about Earth Hounds. Earth Hounds have fangs at the front and a waggler at the back. To find out which is which, hold a sausage at both ends." Dr Xargle is instructing his class of small fellow aliens on the nature and habits of the earth creatures known to us as dogs.

Lid up, pants down, bottom on the seat! They must not have toilets in outer space, because this baby Martian keeps going in the wrong place: a bird bath, a bin, an up-turned hat. Perhaps if he masters "The Toilet Song," he might learn where to go.

In the middle of a wood there is a chick who will not fly. "Not I!" she cries to Mother Owl and Father Owl. She flaps, she flips, she flops, and she hops back into the nest. Time passes and seasons change, but still she refuses to fly. Will she ever learn to let go and soar up into the open sky?

Once when the world tipped upside down, The earth went blue and the sky went brown. All the baby animals tumbled out of bed And ended up with very funny mums instead...

Hippopotamus had a spotamus . . . on her bottomus! "It's a blister!" said her sister. "It's measles!" said Weasel. "It's hippopox!" said Fox. But in the end the spotamus turns out to be something hilariously unexpected!

The most beautiful girl in the whole of the school is Lucinda Belinda Melinda McCool – but Lucinda Belinda felt it was her duty to guide all her friends in the subject of beauty. Lucinda becomes the scourge of family and friends, criticising big bottoms and moustaches (especially her grandma's)...

"One foggy, groggy morning by the salty, splashy sea, I'm sure I saw a dinosaur and I'm sure that he saw me." A dinosaur is coming ashore! Tell everyone you know! Gather at the beach to see the dinosaur appear! But there's more to this story than meets the eye. Is there really a dinosaur lurking by the seashore? Or is something funny going on?

It is Boa's birthday. It is going to be the best one ever. Or so he hopes. He invites his friends round. They will all bring him wonderful presents. . . .or will they?

"One foggy, groggy morning By the salty, splashy sea I'm sure I saw a dinosaur And I'm sure that he saw me." But there's more to this story than meets the eye. Can there really be a dinosaur at Sandy Bottom End? Or is someone up to something...

“Anyone who believes that faeries are wee, golden-haired creatures with dragon-fly wings and sweet intentions has never met a real faerie.” –Suzanne J. Willis, “A Silver Thread Between Worlds” Retellings of familiar favourites from new perspectives, and brand new tales share the pages...