Ben and Mary have got an embarrassing problem, their parents - they're impossible!
Ben and Mary's parents are a total embarrassment, whether they're at school for parents' day or at home wanting to become green. And now Mr Norm has entered a poetry competition and claims he's won - surely that's impossible!
Brian Patten was born in Liverpool and made his name as one of the Liverpool Poets. His first anthology, with Roger McGough and Adrian Henri, The Mersey Sound, has been credited as the most significant anthology of the 20th century in bringing poetry to a new audience. His children's collections include Gargling with Jelly and Juggling with Gerbils, and he is the editor of The Puffin Book of 20th Century Children's Verse and The Puffin Book of Utterly Brilliant Poetry. He has been honoured with the Freedom of the City of Liverpool and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and of Liverpool University and John Moore's University. He lives between London and Devon.
Arthur Robins has illustrated numerous books for children and has worked in magazines and advertising, as well as exhibiting his work in London and New York. He found his calling as an illustrator when a visiting art-teacher put him forward for the entrance exam into Twickenam Tech Art School when he was thirteen years old. After finishing school, Arthur’s illustrations have appeared in advertising, comics, and of course, children’s books.