Opal Moonbaby: Opal Moonbaby and the Best Friend Project: Book 1

Description

Originally published as Opal Moonbaby, this is the first in a funny, warm-hearted series about friendship - and aliens! If you love Jacqueline Wilson, Cathy Cassidy or Liz Kessler, you'll love reading about Opal Moonbaby. Martha's decided that friends are stupid. Especially if they're anything like Colette and Chloe. She never wants another friend. Ever. But it's the first day of the summer holidays, and there's not that much to do ... until she spots a strange little furry creature who leads her to Opal Moonbaby. Opal's been sent down from her planet with a special mission: she needs to work out what on earth people are (and my goodness - people are strange) and make a friend. Can Martha help Opal make the Best Friend Project a success?

Maudie Smith began her career as an actor. She spent years perching on scenery in the back of a van, while touring with a small-scale theatre company. In children's theatre, she played well-known characters such as Piglet and the Snow Queen. She recently graduated from Bath Spa University with an MA in Writing for Young People. Maudie lives in a village near Bath with her screenwriter husband, two daughters, two cats, two chickens and far too many stick insects. Visit her website http://www.maudiesmith.co.uk/ and follow her on Twitter @MaudieSmith Tony Ross is one of Britain's best-known illustrators, with many picture books to his name, including the bestselling Little Princess stories (Andersen). He has also produced the line drawings for many fiction titles, for authors such as David Walliams, Jeanne Willis, Enid Blyton, Astrid Lindgren, and many more.

The story of an alien who comes to earth on a mission to make friends, this is a rather lovely debut. Quirky and very charming, Opal is something of a futuristic Pippi Longstocking, which can only be a good thing - BOOKSELLER A little like Pippi Longstocking meets Dodie Smith ... with a sprinkle of Jacqueline Wilson-esque social commentary thrown in for good measure. I really enjoyed this. It's got a certain, almost old-fashioned, charm to it - DID YOU EVER STOP TO THINK... This charming debut has everything: strong characterisation, dramatic narrative and a perfect ending. Furthermore, the themes of friendship, trust and tolerance present a powerful message. Children will have fun reading and talking about Opal Moonbaby. This could be the beginning of a great new series. Parents, teachers and librarians, please take note: Maudie Smith is 'zooming totally fantabulous'! - NEWBOOKS