What makes Number 2 such a special place to live? – “there’s a hole in the wall that belongs to the ZOO.” Ellie and her brother appreciate the locality and enjoy visits from the animals throughout the week until lunchtime on Thursday. When the pattern is distracted, the children have “nothing to do” then Ellie takes matters into her own…

In three stories, Mouse and Mole try to find The Secret of Happiness. What can be? Good reading, a relaxed walk, or tea with friends who care about you. Everything starts well for the duo in A Good Read when they agree that nothing is better than reading a favourite book.  Soon after, Mouse seems to find enjoyment: ‘ha-ha’, ‘tee-hee’, but…

Everything starts with a hole under a cherry tree when a little boy, accompanied by his dog, discovers that his ball didn’t bounce back. What could be hiding there? His curiosity is fired, and he tries to find the answer by asking family members and friends. Everyone seems to have ideas of his own that show the spun of their…

The teeny, weeny blue genie enjoys a peaceful life on the Old Macdonald farm, happily located in an unused teapot at the bottom of a dresser until the farmer rubs the pot. Mr Macdonald enjoys a series of granted wishes: a shiny tractor, a wife and even a baby. However, the genie soon discovers that after each request, the farm…

The “white dog with black spots” – Harry seems content with the neighbourhood apart from the guinea pig pet, who sadly grabs the children’s attention in his home. A novelty factor for the kids, the guinea pig enjoys “special treats” and “lots of belly rubs”. Instinctively, Harry feels rejected and tries to conform to no avail: the ball balancing is…

A family with three children lives in the woods, possibly near a village, faces a visit from a ‘monster’ – a black dog. Pinfold introduces the characters one by one when seeing the black dog outside their house. The author portrays each member of the Hope family on a page not only by text but also by drawing in a…