by Josh Lacey
Some witnesses described it as looking like a dinosaur, leading experts to wonder if a previously unknown species could have been living off the shores of Australia for the past sixty million years.
Beachgoers have been warned to stay out of the water all along Adelaide’s beachfront until scientists and experts have studied photographs and footage of the unknown intruder.
No one was hurt and the creature only stayed for a few minutes, leading to speculation that it might have been a trick of the light, a strangely shaped piece of driftwood, or even a great white shark covered in seaweed.
Local resident Gav McPherson remains baffled. “We’re used to sharks and sea lions here. Killer jellyfish are no problem, either. But this was something else, mate. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Police Chief Tina O’Sullivan says her department is keeping an open mind until further investigations have been completed. She refused to comment on speculations that the sighting could be linked to a series of sheep thefts in the area.
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From: Edward Smith-Pickle
To: Morton Pickle
Date: Monday, March 20
Subject: My party
Attachments: Mister Mysterio
Dear Uncle Morton,
Did you get my invitation?
I just wanted to check because you’re the only person who hasn’t RSVPed.
I hope you can come. It’s going to be a great party. We’re having a magician.
Love from your favorite nephew,
Eddie
From: Morton Pickle
To: Edward Smith-Pickle
Date: Tuesday, March 21
Subject: Re: My party
Dear Eddie,
I would have loved to come to your party. There is very little that I enjoy more than the work of a good magician.
Unfortunately, I have already promised to stay in Scotland and help on the farm with Mr. McDougall, who is a man short this weekend.
That man is, of course, our mutual friend Gordon, who is very excited about coming to see you. He talks about nothing else.
I can hardly believe that he only met your mother a few weeks ago. He already seems to know much more about her than I do, and I’ve known her for an entire lifetime.
Mr. McDougall only agreed to give Gordon the weekend off if I would work in his place. It is lambing season here, and the farm has never been busier.
He will be bringing a small birthday surprise for you.
With love from your affectionate uncle,
Morton
From: Edward Smith-Pickle
To: Morton Pickle
Date: Wednesday, March 22
Subject: Your surprise
Attachments: Emily
Dear Uncle Morton,
Thank you for the surprise. I can’t wait to see what it is.
Mom is very excited about Gordon coming to visit. She keeps buying new dresses, then taking them back to the store because they’re not quite right.
I’m sorry you can’t come to my party. I know my friends would like to meet you. Will you come next year instead?
I’ll send you some pictures of Mister Mysterio sawing someone in half.
Apparently that’s the best part of his act.
I am going to suggest he pick Emily.
She said, “That’s not funny,” and I said I wasn’t trying to be funny. I just thought the house would be a bit more peaceful if I only had half a sister.
Love,
Eddie
From: Edward Smith-Pickle
To: Morton Pickle
Date: Thursday, March 23
Subject: Special time
Attachments: They’re here!
Dear Uncle Morton,
Gordon has arrived with your surprise.
Mom was definitely surprised, but not in a good way.
She said if she’d wanted your dragons to come and stay, she would have invited them.
She was hoping to spend some special time with Gordon this weekend, but she says their time isn’t going to be very special if she’s got to look after two dragons, not to mention the nineteen kids who will be descending on the house on Saturday afternoon.
Of course, I was very happy to see them.
I can’t believe how much Arthur has grown!
He’s also getting quite good at flying. We put him in the garden in case he needed to poop after the long drive, and he almost got over the wall.
It’s lucky he didn’t, because Mrs. Kapelski was pruning her roses and she has a weak heart.
I do wish Ziggy and Arthur could stay for my party. I know my friends would like to meet them.
But Mom said, “Not a chance, buster.”
Could you come and get them ASAP?
Love,
Eddie
About the Author and Illustrator
JOSH LACEY is the author of many books for children, including The Island of Thieves, Bearkeeper, and the Grk series. He worked as a journalist, a teacher, and a screenwriter before writing his first book, A Dog Called Grk. Josh lives in London with his wife and daughters.
GARRY PARSONS has illustrated several books for children and is the author and illustrator of Krong!, winner of the Perth and Kinross Picture Book Award. Garry lives in London.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Welcome
Begin Reading
A Sneak Peek of The Dragonsitter’s Party
The Dragonsitter Series
About the Author and Illustrator
Copyright
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Text copyright © 2014 by Josh Lacey
Illustrations copyright © 2014 by Garry Parsons
Text in excerpt from The Dragonsitter’s Party copyright © 2015 by Josh Lacey
Illustrations in excerpt from The Dragonsitter’s Party copyright © 2015 by Garry Parsons
Cover art © 2014 by Garry Parsons
Hand-lettering © 2016 by David Coulson
Cover design by Marcie Lawrence
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
Little, Brown and Company
Hachette Book Group
1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104
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Little, Brown and Company is a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
The Little, Brown name and logo are trademarks of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.
First ebook edition: October 2016
Originally published in Great Britain in 2014 by Andersen Press Limited
ISBN 978-0-316-29910-7
E3-20160825-JV-PC
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