Leon's favourite tree, the old Crooked Oak, is said to be haunted by the Mad Mangler, a washerwoman who mangles her victims. The tree is kidnapped by SAS-type men and taken to the home of an old rock star, Goldilocks. Leon and Leather Girl search for the tree and witness the arrival of an ancient African baobab which is used as a village bus stop - a small boy and Levi, an elderly fruit bat, are still inside! The mystery of the tree kidnapping deepens as the Mad Mangler and other strange characters arrive. All ends happily as the Mad Mangler is introduced to the modern washing machine and Levi's bat poo solves Goldilocks baldness!

 

There are 176 pages in this book. This book was published 2002 by Penguin Books Ltd .

Susan Gates has written books for a very wide age range and is perhaps best-known for her Carnegie shortlisted title, RAIDER. Susan lives in County Durham. Tony blundell was born in London in 1951. He trained at Harrow School of Art and Exeter College of Art, London.