Dr Monsoon Taggert's Amazing Finishing Academy: Part 1

By ANDREW MATTHEWS, Illustrator TONY ROSS

It was Arabella Armitage's parents' fault. When she was a baby, they fed her until she swelled up all round and shiny like a pink balloon.

"What a bonny baby!" people would cry when they peered into her pram.

Secretly, they thought, "What a lump! She should have been twins!"

Arabella grew. She didn't just grow up, like most children - Arabella grew in every direction at once.

"Have another cake!" her father would coo at teatime.
"Here's two more fried eggs and another sausage,"
Mother would smile at breakfast.

Arabella's parents didn't like her to play with other children. They said other children swore and never blew their noses. Arabella's toys were little ovens, pots and pans. her parents bought her cookery books and showed her the pictures.

If, as sometimes happened, a kindly relative bought her a picture book, Arabella's parents would find food in it somehow.

"Look at this pretty baa-lamb, Arabella," Mr Armitage would drool. "Just imagine him roasted up with a drop of mint sauce! Delicious!"

Publisher: Mammoth, $10.95
Age group: 8+ years