A Yellow Banana Book for the young readers illustrated by Anne Wilson.
At school Wendy is called "Weedy Wendy" by Simon McTavish, who teases her because her father has "run off". When Mrs Paterson asks the children to bring in something interesting for Christmas Evening, Wendy takes Grandad's pet snake, Slinky. Wendy's grandad has gone into hospital for a new hip, so she has the task of looking after Slinky. Wendy may be called weedy at school, but she's not afraid of Slinky.
But at school Slinky disappears and is spotted in a tree, causing panic. When Wendy climbs up to rescue him she gets stuck. The kind fireman who arrives to rescue them turns out to be Simon McTavish's dad. He tells Wendy that, just like her own father, Simon's mother has "run off". Wendy has the best Christmas ever when Grandpa comes out of hospital and Simon McTavish brings her a special present to say sorry: a game of snakes and ladders.
This is a beautifully told story of how a courageous little girl overcomes bullying. Yellow Bananas books combine the visual appeal of picture books with the strength of Mammoth fiction for newly-fluent young readers.
