Description

“I hugely admire the wit and beauty and flair of everything Atinuke does.” Katherine Rundell, author of Impossible Creatures

Selected as a BEST CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024 by: The Wall Street Journal; Publishers Weekly; Kirkus Reviews; Books for Keeps; ALSC Notable Children’s Books; Centre for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature.

“Has the feel of an instant classic.” Books for Keeps, Books of the Year 2024
“A truly magical sense of place.” Lancaster Guardian
“There’s a classic feel to these cheerful, charming, beautifully illustrated seasonal stories.” Inclusive Books for Children
“What a truly fabulous partnership. This is a lovely, lovely story. Beautiful art. The perfect bedtime read and birthday gift.” Nicola Davies

From two award-winning children’s book makers comes a charming collection of four stories for newly independent readers that celebrate a spirited little girl living in the heart of the wild countryside with family and friends.

Beti lives in a little round house in the green woods under the mountains. She lives with Mam, Tad, Baby Jac and her very own tiny goat called Naughty. With each changing season, there is always the promise of adventure! In playful, humourous and exciting stories with richly detailed and bucolic illustrations by Emily Hughes, world-renowned storyteller Atinuke draws on her own experience of building and living in a round house to create a truly magical sense of place. An unforgettable children’s book perfect for newly independent readers to immerse themselves in and embrace the natural world.

Publisher Review

These richly absorbing 6+ stories are illustrated with great charm. * The Guardian * has the feel of an instant classic […] the book has effortless structure and charm which invites readers in. There’s warmth, wit and a real evocation of family love. Full of life and light, this is as ideal for early independent reading as it is for sharing, a real winner! * Books for Keeps, Books of the Year 2024 * In this charming collection of stories – beautifully and tenderly illustrated by talented young Hawaiian artist Emily Hughes – Atinuke brings readers a truly magical sense of place. * The Lancaster Guardian * Simple without being patronising, and full of a mixture of beautiful black-and-white and full-colour illustrations that appear on each page, this is a book that has bedtime written all over it and is one that is likely to be asked for over. * World’s Smallest Library * Sheer delight from cover to cover. With its gentle humour, Atinuke’s gorgeous descriptions of the natural world and Emily Hughes’ wonderful colour or black and white illustrations on every spread, and themes of family love, friendship and the power of believing in oneself, this is a lovely book to read aloud to foundation stage children. * Red Reading Hub *