Opal Moonbaby and the Summer Secret

Now - I want you to remember the name of Opal Moonbaby - she’s a brilliant comic creation … Opal sparkles and she’s totally original. I loved her. And Maudie Smith gives us a great story too. She’s pitch-perfect on the way that girls in this age group act - THE BOOKBAG

A touching story deliciously tinged with magic - LOVE READING4KIDS

The story of an alien who comes to earth on a mission to make friends, this is a rather lovely debut. Quirky and very charming, Opal is something of a futuristic Pippi Longstocking, which can only be a good thing - BOOKSELLER

This is a great book which has … lots of funny, zany twists. I would recommend this book to boys and girls 7 years and up who enjoy a quirky tale with cliffhangers, problem solving and touches of magic - GUARDIAN CHILDREN S BOOKS

A little like Pippi Longstocking meets Dodie Smith … with a sprinkle of Jacqueline Wilson-esque social commentary thrown in for good measure. I really enjoyed this. It’s got a certain, almost old-fashioned, charm to it - DID YOU EVER STOP TO THINK

It’s amazing! I can’t wait to read the next one

You can’t put down this brilliant, magical and hilarious book - I had to read it again. [Opal Moonbaby is a] very well written story about aliens, friendships and challenges. Opal, Martha and Robbie are very good characters because of their great sense of humour when things aren’t always that easy. I have read this book a lot of times and it never gets boring

Opal Moonbaby is one of my favourite books because it is so imaginative. Opal Moonbaby is funny, creative, quirky and heart-warming

Maudie Smith began her career as an actor. She spent years perching on scenery in the back of a van, while touring with a small-scale theatre company. In children’s theatre, she played well-known characters such as Piglet and the Snow Queen. She recently graduated from Bath Spa University with an MA in Writing for Young People. Maudie lives in a village near Bath with her screenwriter husband, two daughters, two cats, two chickens and far too many stick insects.

Tony Ross is one of Britain’s best-known illustrators, with many picture books to his name, including the bestselling Little Princess stories (Andersen). He has also produced the line drawings for many fiction titles, for authors such as David Walliams, Jeanne Willis, Enid Blyton, Astrid Lindgren, and many more.