Nothing ever pleases the king - he wants the cook to create more exotic dishes, he wants the gardener to plant rarer flowers and wants the tailor to sew more stylish clothes. One day, the king decides to offer his daughter's hand in marriage to the person who can bring him the most beautiful gift of all. This is a tale of a King who is so blinded by greed that he puts his desire for 'more' above his daughter's happiness. A simple shepherd boy helps the King to see the error of his ways and in doing so wins the heart and hand of the young princess. Hodgson's original story is beautifully told with lavish illustrations by Madalina Dina. This timeless book will appeal to children aged 4-8 and to all who love fairy stories. Hodgson, a former journalist, lives in south-east England. She is also author of The Robot Who Couldn't Cry, Hugh's Blue Day and The Teeny Weeny Walking Stick - all published by Hogs Back Books. Dina was born in Slatina in Romania. A graduate of the Ecole Des Beaux Arts in Bucharest, she moved to France in 2005. Working mainly in oils and acrylics, she has worked on the film sets for Modigliana, and the French saga Les Rois Maudits, starring Jeanne Moreau and Gerard Depardieu. She also illustrated The Robot Who Couldn't Cry.

The Robot Who Couldn't Cry is a full-colour picture book geared to children aged 3-6. It tells the story of Rusty, a sad robot who believes that crying might make him feel better. The trouble is robots can't cry - it's the way that they're made - Dina's rich and original illustrations bring to life a quaint and loveable cast of old-fashioned toys, each with his or her own idea about how best to help Rusty. Hodgson, a former journalist, lives in south-east England. She is also author of Hugh's Blue Day and The Teeny-Weeny Walking Stick, both published by Hogs Back Books. Dinas was born in Slatina in Romania. A graduate of the Ecole Des Beaux Arts in Bucharest, she moved to France in 2005. She works mainly in oils and acrylics. In addition to her illustrations, she has recently worked on the film sets for Modigliana, and the French saga Les Rois Maudits, starring Jeanne Moreau and Gerard Depardieu.