The Poppy Seed Cakes (Everyman's Library CHILDREN'S CLASSICS)

Auntie Katusha has just come from the Old Country, bringing poppy seeds to make cakes for a mischievous four-year-old boy named Andrewshek. A little neighbour, Erminka, who wears red boots which are too big for her, joins Andrewshek for a series of adventures with talking animals, including a greedy goose who steals the cakes; a naughty white goat who hides on the roof; and a kitten, a dog and two chickens who are determined to gatecrash the children’s tea party. There is art on every page, featuring cheeky animals, gooseberry tarts, colourful shawls and Russian dolls, and cheerful Auntie Katusha in her kerchiefed and aproned splendour.

Margery Clark was a pseudonym for Margery Quigley (1886-1968) and Mary E. Clark, two American librarians who co-authored children's books. ILLUSTRATORS: Maud (1889-1971) and Miska (1888-1960) Petersham were a prolific illustrating husband-and-wife team, most famous for writing and illustrating The Rooster Crows, a book of American songs, rhymes and games in the Mother Goose tradition. Miska was born in Hungary, Maud in New York.