Join everyone's favourite crime-busting ladybird on a trip to the seaside! This brilliant rhyming adventure from the bestselling picture-book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks features a cast of wonderful sea creatures – including a magical mermaid – and plenty of beach fun!

The clever little ladybird is off on a trip to the seaside, but those two bad men, Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len, are up to their wicked ways again. This time they're planning to steal the mermaid's hair and sell it to a famous star. Luckily, the crime-busting ladybird has a clever plan to stop the thieves . . .

With brilliant rhyming verse from Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo, and bright, distinctive illustrations from award-winning illustrator, Lydia Monks, What the Ladybird Heard at the Seaside is the fourth title in the number one bestselling What the Ladybird Heard series – perfect for young children to read aloud.

Enjoy more adventures with the clever little ladybird in What the Ladybird Heard, What the Ladybird Heard Next, What the Ladybird Heard at the Zoo and What the Ladybird Heard at Christmas.

An instant classic * Baby Magazine *
Bright, sparkling, full of humor, subterfuge and rhyming fun, this is another exceptional title from the award winning pair of Donaldson and Monks. Not only a funny tale of whimsy, it continues to show that even the smallest, quietist and most unassuming characters around us can make the biggest differences and overcome the most difficult of challenges. Themes of friendship, teamwork and communication are prevalent in this series with the fourth instalment being just as strong. Except nothing less than bold, beautiful and brilliance * Included in Askews and Holt Newsletter *

Julia Donaldson is the author of some of the world's best-loved children's books, including modern classics The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child, which together have sold over 27.5 million copies worldwide, and the hugely successful What the Ladybird Heard adventures. Julia also writes fiction, including the Princess Mirror-Belle books illustrated by Lydia Monks, as well as poems, plays and songs – and her brilliant live shows are always in demand. She was Children’s Laureate 2011–13 and has been honoured with a CBE for Services to Literature. Julia divides her time between West Sussex and Edinburgh.

Lydia Monks is one of the most original and bestselling picture book artists working today. Lydia illustrates several bestselling series including the What the Ladybird Heard adventures and Princess Mirror-Belle, written by Julia Donaldson. Her distinctive use of colour and collage has won her critical acclaim and several awards, including the Royal Mail Scottish Children’s Book Award, the Stockport Children’s Book Award and multiple nominations for the Kate Greenaway Medal. She is also the author and illustrator of the Twit Twoo School picture books. Lydia lives in Sheffield.