Cleopatra Silverwing - Tapa dura

Cleopatra Silverwing loves to do stunts. While all the other little butterflies are learning to flutter gently, Cleopatra practises her loop the loops and dip flips. One blustery day, her parents tell her it's too windy to go flying, but Cleopatra just can't resist practising the cherry dip flip one last time. The gusty wind sweeps her up over rivers and snowy mountain tops and SPLAT! into a gooey swamp. Fiesty Cleopatra is in luck - some friendly fireflies help her safely back home. Cleopatra promises never to fly off alone again until she's much older and to always let her parents know where she's going.

Adria Meserve is an exciting new talent in picture books. Smog the City Dog is her first book, and she has begun work on Cleopatra Silverwing, her next book due out in 2004. Adria gained a BA in History of Art at The Courtauld Institute of Art in London and went on to qualify as a teacher at Brighton University. As well as writing and illustrating picture books, she teaches art in North London. Adria is also studying for an MA in Illustration at Brighton University.