Evie and the Animals

  A big thank you to my agent Clare Conville and all the team at Curtis Brown.

  Another big thank you to my editor Francis Bickmore and everyone at Canongate.

  And to my first reader, adviser and best friend, Andrea Semple.

  I also must mention my daughter Pearl. She asked me to write a book about animals, and a girl who loves them, so I did so just for her. After writing A Boy Called Christmas because my son asked me a question (‘What was Father Christmas like as a boy?’) I needed to keep things even and write a book for Pearl. Here it is!

  Finally, I want to acknowledge all the young people everywhere who are determined to protect humans and other animals, and the environment we all inhabit. Greta Thunberg and young climate change activists around the world, I salute you. You are Evie’s heroes.

  ‘Terrific . . . An instant classic’

  Guardian

  ‘Will melt your Grinch-frozen heart’

  Simon Mayo

  ‘Funny, exciting and full of Christmascharm’

  The Week