A brilliantly scrambled fairy tale about world-weary Max, his unwanted new family - and their very unexpected quest to save the Land of Happily Ever After, from the author of the Opal Moonbaby series.

Mischief, make believe and marbles galore! PIERS TORDAY [FOR OPAL MOONBABY] Now - I want you to remember the name of Opal Moonbaby - she's a brilliant comic creation ... Opal sparkles and she's totally original. I lovedher. And Maudie Smith gives us a great story too. She's pitch-perfect on the way that girls in this age group act. -- Sue Magee THE BOOKBAG [FOR OPAL MOONBABY] A touching story deliciously tinged with magic. -- Julia Eccleshare LOVEREADING4KIDS Endlessly inventive. PIERS TORDAY Joyously original fantasy PIERS TORDAY [FOR OPAL MOONBABY] Opal Moonbaby really does seem like a classic novel. It's exactly the sort of book I would have devoured as a young girl and it really did have a similar style and tone as some of my old favourites ... Maudie Smith is a great new talent in the world of middle grade fiction and I'll certainly be looking out for more of her work in future. WRITING FROM THE TUB [FOR OPAL MOONBABY] This heart-warming tale ... will appeal to those who like a little magic in their lives. CAROUSEL

Maudie Smith started out as an actor, devising new musical plays for which she also wrote lyrics. Her many roles in children's theatre include the Snow Queen and Piglet. More recently she has written a libretto for a newly commissioned opera. In 2011 she completed an MA in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University. Maudie lives near Bath with her screenwriter husband and their two daughters, along with a menagerie of cats, chickens and stick insects. She has two older brothers who she likes to refer to as the Ugly Sisters. Visit Maudie's website at http://www.maudiesmith.co.uk and follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MaudieSmith Tony Ross is one of Britain's best known illustrators, with many picture books to his name, including the LITTLE PRINCESS stories (Andersen). He has also produced the line drawings for many fiction titles, including David Walliams' bestselling novels, BILLIONAIRE BOY, GANGSTA GRANNY, DEMON DENTIST, and AWFUL AUNTIE (HarperCollins), as well as authors such as Jeanne Willis, Enid Blyton, Astrid Lindgren, and many more. He lives in Wales.