I WISH I WERE A DOG

A delightful picture book about cats and dogs from Lydia Monks, the internationally acclaimed illustrator of Julia Donaldson's What the Ladybird Heard and Sugarlump and the Unicorn. Kitty is fed up with being a cat and thinks that dogs have a far better time of it. They have much more fun, with all their playing, howling, barking and chasing robbers.

They can even become film stars, for goodness sake. But of course, there is a downside to being a dog too. Being put on a lead can't be much fun.

And chewing on old bones is a bit sad. And of course, they always have to do as they are told. Whereas cats get to catch mice and prowl like tigers and climb trees and come and go as they please - so maybe being a cat isn't so bad after all? Lydia Monks' highly original fable, I Wish I Were A Dog, all about the dangers of envy and packed to the brim with vibrant colour illustrations, is an absolute hoot.

Look out for Lydia's other great books Where's Your Eee-Orrh?, Go, Go, Gorilla, Aaaarrgghh, Spider! and the Mungo Monkey series. Lydia Monks is an award-winning illustrator and author, best known for her quirky and colourful picture books. She has successfully collaborated with many authors such as Julia Donaldson (What the Ladybird Heard, Princess and the Wizard) and Karen McCombie (Indie Kidd series), and poets including Carol Ann Duffy (Skipping Rope Snake, Queen Nibble & Queen Munch).

Her awards include the Stockport Children's Book Award, the Nestle Smarties Prize and the Royal Mail Scottish Children's Book Award.