A wonderful story for winners (and losers) everywhere, now reissued at a larger size and with a fresh new cover design. Make a friend for life in Alfie!

...a classic... Irish Times 20061209 For toddlers just begining to discover the fascination of everyday life, Shirley Hughes's classic Alfie series is a must. Irish Sunday Independent 20061210 This charming book aimed at under 5's teaches children about caring, sharing as well as giving and receiving; while telling a charming story at the same time South Wales Argus 20070210 [Alfie] seems drawn from life, as ever The Children's Bookseller 20040821 This brings together themes explored in previous Alfie books - courage, generosity, imagination - blended with a subtle humour which is never about laughing at a child 20051003 Inspiring, lovingly drawn Sunday Times 20041205 The story has comedy and pathos ... the illustrations are enchanting - cosy, warm and also very familiar The School Librarian 20041201 For many children this is a very familiar world Carousel 20050501

Shirley was born in West Kirby, near Liverpool, and studied fashion and dress design at Liverpool Art School, before continuing her studies at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art in Oxford. She then embarked on a career as a freelance illustrator in London, where she still lives today. She illustrated other writers' work, including Noel Streatfeild, Alison Uttley, Ian Seraillier, Margaret Mahy and notably Dorothy Edwards's My Naughty Little Sister series. Shirley began to write and draw her own picture books when her children were young. Her first book - Lucy and Tom's Day - was published in 1960, and she followed it with, among others, Dogger and the Alfie series.