Butterfingers - Hardcover

J. M. Trewellard trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama and worked for several years as an actor before the birth of her two sons. She returned to Cornwall, where her family have lived for generations, and taught Literature and Theatre Studies. She is a founder member of a touring theatre company in the south west for whom she is a creative director. She has been writing plays, poetry and short stories and this is her first children's book. A freelance illustrator for over twenty years, Ian Beck has undertaken many different kinds of illustration work, from packaging and greeting cards to the record cover for Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album. Ian turned to writing and illustrating children's books on the birth of his own first child and is the creator of many successful picture books. His first book for older children, The Secret History of Tom Trueheart (OUP) was published in June 2006.

Grade 3–5—Ned is a stable boy, and not a very good one. He is clumsy and he spends much of his time daydreaming and watching Princess Bella from afar. When she is stolen by a giant monster, and none of the knights sent to retrieve her return, Ned sets out to rescue her with his animal friends Dilly the pony and Tuff the dog. Along the way, they pick up more companions including a pig, an otter, a lark, a mouse, and a fox. This well-told story is a simple fantasy for beginning chapter-book readers. The problem lies with the silhouette illustrations. While they are unique and interesting, they are distracting. In some places, they cut into the text, which could make tracking difficult for beginning or struggling readers. This is a shame because the story itself would be a good choice for these readers. Still, the book should be popular with children who like quests and anthropomorphic animals.—Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA
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