A warm and reassuring story of friendship, confidence and finding your voice.

In the heart of the forest, everyone is getting ready for the Big Show. Bob is desperate to join in, but every time he tries to sing in front of anyone he gets so nervous that his trunk gets tangled and all he can do is squeak. Bob's friend Paloma shares her special secret to beat stage fright and helps him overcome his fears, but the moment he steps into the spotlight, it all goes wrong. Can Bob remember the secret and save the show?

Desmond’s mixed-media images feature vividly hued watercolorlike washes of green and blue, and when Bob finally summons his courage, Pollock-esque splatters of color dot the pages. Porter’s warmly soothing text carries Bob along to a triumphant ending sure to embolden other reluctant performers. A tale of stage fright conquered that hits all the right notes. * Kirkus *

Jane Porter is an author and illustrator specializing in work both for and with children. Her work ranges from picture and novelty books to children’s maps, murals and hand-made books suitable for outreach work. She has worked for a number of organizations, including theNational Trust, English Heritage, London Zoo, the Corporation of London, Historic Royal Palaces and the National Health Service. When she's not working, Jane is often to be found on the RiverThames in a coracle or skiff, looking out for passing bats, cormorants and wagtails. Visit Jane's website: www.janeporter.co.uk

Jenni Desmond is an illustrator, artist and picture book author, working from a studio in a rattling railway arch in east London. She graduated with distinction from the Masters in Children's Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art (APU), and her books have won awards including the Cambridgeshire "Read it Again" Picture Book Award. Visit Jenni's website: www.jennidesmond.com