'Joan Aiken's invention seemed inexhaustible, her high spirits a blessing, her sheer storytelling zest a phenomenon. She was a literary treasure, and her books will continue to delight for many years to come' PHILLIP PULLMAN

'Favourite stories, like unexpected presents, are things that you can keep and cherish all your life, carry with you, in memory, in your mind's ear, and bring out, at any time, when you are feeling lonely, or need cheering up, or, like friends, just because you are fond of them.'

Joan Aiken is justly famous for her Wolves of Willoughby Chase series, but her greatest love was for short stories, which she wrote prolifically throughout her long career

From a princess turned into a pirate parrot to a procession of Father Christmases chased down Fifth Avenue by a rackety horse and cart; from the ghost of a crusader's dog, to a captured mermaid in a flying machine, there is something for everybody in this enthralling collection. These stories showcase Aiken's unique talents - the way she mixed magic and myth with humour to create a kind of modern fairytale. Her stories will appeal to readers of all ages for many years to come.

WITH BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATIONS BY PETER BAILEY

This book is part of a book series called Virago Modern Classics .

This book has been graded for interest at 8-12 years.

There are 384 pages in this book. This is a short story book. This book was published 2016 by Little, Brown Book Group .

Peter Bailey has been illustrating books for more than thirty-five years and has worked with many of today's best known authors, including Philip Pullman, Allan Ahlberg, Michael Morpurgo and Joan Aiken. He lives near Liverpool with his wife, Sian, who is also an illustrator. Joan Aiken is one of the best loved authors of the twentieth century, and has written over a hundred books for young readers and adults, including "A Necklace of Raindrops," "The Winter Sleepwalker and Other Stories," and "The Youngest Miss Ward. "