Celebrate forty glorious years of the Large family in this stunning anniversary edition of a modern picture book classic.

"If you are not familiar with these stories, you really have not lived ... you just couldn't get better" Guardian

A gorgeous 40th anniversary edition of a family picture book favourite with a shiny gold foil cover! This is the story of Mrs Large the elephant – who just needs five minutes of peace and quiet away from her boisterous children! So, taking refuge in the bathroom, she fills herself a hot, foamy bubble bath and takes in a tray of her favourite breakfast and the morning paper. But there’s never a dull moment with the Large family, and it soon becomes clear that mum's quiet time is to be very short-lived! Family life is beautifully observed in this warm and funny modern classic from Jill Murphy.

Prizes

Short-listed for Children’s Book Award 1986 (UK)

Jill Murphy (1949-2021) was one of Britain’s most treasured author–illustrators. She wrote and illustrated her first book, the bestselling The Worst Witch, while still only eighteen, and went on to create the award-winning Large family series, which has sold over ten million copies worldwide and been adapted for television. Jill’s other characters include a small monster called Marlon who starred in the acclaimed picture books The Last Noo-noo and All for One.