Witches, mermaids, dragons, a dog who plays the violin, a girl who finds a dinosaur egg and a boy who wanted the world to be flat - all these and more appear in this book of stories and poems by a born storyteller. Written with warmth and a gentle humour, they read aloud beautifully and are rich in surprises and imaginative twists.

First published in l972 as 'The First Margaret Mahy Storybook', many of these stories have been loved so much that they have appeared in many anthologies - and in many countries - over the years. They are now freshly presented with charming line drawings by Peter Bailey.

There are 192 pages in this book. This book was published 2002 by Hachette Children's 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. Authors featuring on this anthology include Margaret Mahy, Allan Ahlberg, Dick King-Smith, Adele Geras, Michael Rosen, Linda Allen and Vivian French