Bumble the hamster, so called because of his big bum, belongs to Rosie. He knows it's his job to keep Rosie happy. He entertains her with Pocket Diving, Ear Tickling and Finger Balancing. But when he tries Hide and Seek, Rosie's parents panic and insist Bumble has to stay in his cage. Rosie still feeds him delicious things, but Bumble's getting bored - and fat!

Then mice arrive in the house. Rosie's parents are horrified, Rosie isn't happy - and Bumble is frantic. if things go on like this, he'll lose his job. He has to come up with a plan, and quickly...

Alison Prince is an established author of children's books and was joint-winner of the Guardian Prize in 1996, sharing it with Philip Pullman! She also writes poetry and won the Literary Review Annual Poetry Prize in 1997.
She has recently published a biography of Hans Christian Andersen, the research for which entailed her learning Danish.

Author lives: Isle of Arran, Scotland