When Henry Baker finds a small, super-shiny black pencil on his way to school, his life is changed forever....

This nine story compendium provides a gently stretching listening session for seven to nine year olds, or perfectly paced bedtime stories for younger children. The wide-ranging subject matter, from a friendship dilemma to helping a passing viking, picking up the pieces from a karate disaster to finding a lost voice, will amuse your youngsters whilst quietly encouraging them to think.

Nicky is an amateur archaeologist and an author of adult historical fiction, as well as a karateka and the chair of the village Neighborhood Plan committee. Many of the stories are drawn from her research or every day life, giving them a depth of detail!

The stories are:

Henry and the Football Boots, in which Henry's new boots make him brilliant at football, but give him a moral dilemma.

Henry and the Magic Necklace, where a birthday gift causes Henry big, big problems.

Henry and the Magic Teapot, where you'd be surprised how much hot water a teapot can get you into!

Henry and the Dinosaur, where big brother Mike borrows the pencil and causes them both all kinds of problems.

Henry and the Viking, in which a school trip to the museum leads to Henry making a new friend.

Henry and the Bird Bath, where a bit of over-enthusiastic karate means that Henry has to use all his art skills!

**Henry and the Whirlwind, where Henry loses his voice, and finding it again is tricky.

**Henry and the Park Tree, where Henry solves a neighborhood planning dispute!

**Henry and the Velvet Shorts, where the school play proves unexpectedly challenging!

**These stories are new, not available elsewhere."