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For Dad. The true king of the ‘dad joke’.
Thank you for being you and always encouraging
me to boldly go into my creative future.
Love you long and prosper! xxx
First published in Great Britain 2019
by Egmont UK Limited
The Yellow Building, 1 Nicholas Road, London W11 4AN
Text and illustrations copyright © 2019 Laura Ellen Anderson
The moral rights of the author and illustrator have been asserted
First e-book edition 2019
ISBN 978 1 4052 9209 2
Ebook ISBN 978 1 4052 9414 0
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library
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CONTENTS
MAP OF THE KINGDOM OF THE LIGHT
MEET THE NOCTURNIANS AND GLITTEROPOLANS
5. BEARDED BUGS
6. THAT GHOST PIE SANG TO THE PIGEON AT DAWN
7. SOPHISTICATED LADYBIRD WITH A BRIEFCASE
8. NO SIGN, NO HOPE
9. A CORN THAT BUMBLES
10. I AM NOT A SOFA
11. THE CURSE OF THE SUGARPLUM TREE
12. THE NECTAR CARRIAGE
13. OI, KEVIN!
14. CORAL JUICE
15. THE TIDDLYPIPS WING
16. IT’S ALL COMING BACK TO ‘IM!
17. THE TINGLE
18. BE TINY AND BRAVE
19. ONE SMALL BEACON OF LIGHT
As the sun rose in the Kingdom of the Dark, the creatures of Nocturnia were all getting ready for bed; all apart from one little vampire and her pet pumpkin, Squashy.
‘Muuuum !’ Amelia Fang called up the spiral staircase of the Fang Mansion. ‘Have you seen my pumpkin backpack? I need it for the Rainbow Rangers camping trip, and I have to be in Central Nocturnia Graveyard in ten minutes to meet everyone!’
A yellow door halfway down the corridor burst open and Countess Frivoleeta, a beautiful vampiress with VERY tall hair, appeared. She was wearing a long sparkly dressing gown with HUGE shoulder pads and her hair was wrapped up in a glittery towel.
‘Darkling!’ she oozed, scooping Amelia up in her arms. ‘I can’t believe you’re going away for the whole half-moon holiday!’ She kissed Amelia three times on each cheek, leaving behind shiny black lipstick marks. ‘Now, did you remember your fang polish? How about your pale skin scrub? Oh, and some spare pairs of knickers just in case any get eaten by vultures or something . . .’
‘Mum!’ Amelia blushed. ‘None of my things will get eaten by vultures. Plus, we’re going to the Kingdom of the Light. You don’t really get any vultures over there. But I really do need to find my pumpkin backpack or I won’t be able to pack a spare pair of anything.’
The countess pondered for a moment and then disappeared into her bedroom. A few seconds later, she emerged from another room further along the corridor. The doors of the Fang Mansion were rather unusual; they moved around whenever they pleased and Amelia was lucky if her bedroom was behind the same door for more than a few weeks at a time. Some doors disappeared, new ones appeared and you never knew quite where you were going to end up!
‘You can use this bag if you like? It’s one of my favourites!’ said the countess, stroking a furry clutch bag which looked like a flattened mouse. Amelia was unsure she’d fit her hand inside it let alone a week’s worth of camping essentials. As Amelia tried to figure out a way to let her mother down gently, her dad appeared from the bathroom with a crossword puzzle tucked under one arm.
‘Ah! My favourite sausage sizzler!’ said Count Drake the Third when he saw Amelia. ‘You must be excited to escape organ practice for a whole week!’ He winked mischievously.
Countess Frivoleeta glared at her husband. ‘Drake my most dreadful flabbergaster, Amelia will be catching up with her organ practice after