Enormous thanks are due to the many people who helped with this book. To my agent, Jenny Hewson, who encouraged me to put together the pitch, and without whom it wouldn’t exist. To Assallah Tahir and Juliet Annan at Fig Tree for their warm support and scrupulous line edits. To the Royal Literary Fund for supporting my work with a fellowship, and commissioning an early essay on Hilda Boswell’s Treasury of Poetry. To Tom and Victoria at The Idler for asking me to research nonsense, and letting me do my first lecture on ‘Fierce Bad Rabbits’ in their tent at Port Eliot. To Francesca Dow for meeting with me to talk about the Penguin children’s list. To all those who read and commented on earlier drafts, particularly Professor David Rudd, whose advice on the manuscript as both a children’s literature expert and family friend from Edgworth was invaluable; my friend Hannah; my husband Richard; my sister Mary, and of course my wonderful mum, who has been my first reader since I was five.
And to Gruff and Cate most of all. Thank you for all the hours spent on my knee letting me read you picture books. They have been some of the best hours of my life.