This delightful collection of charmingly told Ôanimal storiesÕ started out as bedtime reading for the authorÕs grandchildren, some of whose ideas contributed to its inspiration. Iconic characters such as Jasper the Scaredy Cat, Toby the Independent Duck and garrulous fieldmouse Tilly Tattle-Tale are endearingly presented in mainly natural settings as they learn to cope with all sorts of difficulties. Not just for bedtime, these fun-to-read tales constitute a childÕs survival handbook. The apparently straightforward narration is delightfully tempered by a whimsical imagination that takes full flight in the quirky poems interspersed throughout. Lightly touched-on biblical themes frame the collection at both ends. The authorÕs telling of the stories has been enthusiastically received by both pupils and teachers in Scottish primary schools.