Simon and the Witch in School by Magaret Stuart Barry ISBN 0 00 673238 0 HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

"Ever since I first learnt to read, I have loved witches - the uglier and the more wicked the better. When there were no more witch stories left in the library, I started making them up to amuse my younger brother and sister. This was not a great success, as I got into trouble for frightening them!

Now I have three children of my own. When they were little, I carried on with my storytelling, until a VERY BORING ADULT told me,
'Children these days don't like stories about witches. Oh no! Definitely not!'

So, naturally, I had to sit down at once and start writing about them.

The witch in this story is not frightening, but she is certainly not very well-behaved, and she does eat beettles and mashed earwigs. I am very fond of her because she doesn't like BORING PEOPLE."

MSB

Margaret Barry has written countless children's books over the years, including a series of books called The Attic Toys published by Bloomsbury and a collection of 'Simon and the Witch' books which where made into a television series by the BBC.

About the Book

The witch HATES school.... but Simon says she's going to learn to read!

Simon's friend the witch is losing her magic touch. Her spells just won't go right and she can't read her spell book any more. School is the answer, but once there the witch is too busy causing chaos to learn much..

 Mayor Bungle the Mad Old Dog

 ISBN 0 7475 2998 1

 Publisher Bloomsbury

In an attic, up the stairs, beyond the dark corner, live a friendly, argumentative, bossy, silly and lovable collection of old or forgotten ATTIC TOYS.

These are the stories of their wonderfully strange and funny adventures.

Mayor Bungle is indeed a mad old dog as Tilly Losh soon finds out. She can't help it if every time the mayor chooses to talk to himself she just happens to be listening by the window! Soon all the toys are aware of Bungle's plans to become LORD Mayor and are baffled by his choice of two hats instead of one. Led by Boomer, the toys insist on a cure for his madness and set off on a quest gathering ingredients for a magic potion. With surprising results and a satisfying ending for the pompous old dog, this is the sixth book in the ATTIC TOYS series.

Other books by Margaret Barry

The Witch and the Holiday Club
ISBN 0 00 673262 3
HarperCollins

Prissy the Stuck-up Doll
ISBN 0 7475 3000 9
Bloomsbury