Johnny the Tin Tortoise

There's a title-change here: in hardback, it was Johnny Here and There. I like this author's whimsical, illogical way of spinning a tale. He knows how to root the fantastic in the here and now. This is a full-length story of Johnny and his escapades on his tortuous way to visit Komodo the Dragon. Fast-moving plot, with use of songs, poems and word-play to push the action on. Though the author's special gift is in short, snappy episodes, the whole hangs together well, with chapters just right for reading aloud. Smashing use of time-shift with King Alfred, Sinbad the Sailor and even Thomas' 'Yes, I remember Adelstrop' thrown in. Good, literate fun for the six-to-nines.