How to Save Your Tail (7 page)

He glimpsed the pink and orange sunrise through the library window. It was spellbinding.

Spellbinding?

Bob’s memory raced back to Twinkle’s book of spells. He could see it before him—big and fat, with a spell for every possible problem. In his mind’s eye, he flipped through the pages. And there it was!

Then, before you could say “Bob’s your uncle,” Bob said this:

And before you could say “Justine’s your aunt,” Blue Sue flapped up to the window and honked.

Bob hopped on Sue’s back, and together they flew to another library in another kingdom—where Bob read to his heart’s content and they both lived happily ever after.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M
ARY
H
ANSON
is the author of several books for children, including
The Difference Between Babies & Cookies
and
The Old Man and the Flea
. A retired children’s librarian, Mary enjoys reading (sometimes to her cats), coaching high school mock trials (always with her husband), and looking forward to visits from her two children, who grew up against her wishes and went away to college. Her favorite cookies are chocolate-layered toffee crackers.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

J
OHN
H
ENDRIX
’s illustrations have appeared in the
New Yorker
, the
New York Times
, and
Rolling Stone
, among others. He is the illustrator of one book for children, also involving rats:
The Giant Rat of Sumatra: or Pirates Galore
, by Sid Fleischman. John currently lives in Saint Louis with his wife, Andrea, and their son, Jack, and teaches illustration at Washington University. He loves shortbread cookies with icing and sprinkles.