The Impossible Race
Richard is the captain for the snails’ soccer team. His team is set to play the cockroaches, the most feared team in the garden. Richard invites the captain of the cockroaches, Roy Malone, to a race. Winner gets the kick-off for the game. The race begins. To get

out of the sun, Richard dips into a cave. Roy Malone follows him. Unfortunately the cave belongs to Gwendolyn, the rat. Roy

Malone is terrified of rats. When Gwendolyn comes in, Roy freezes solid. Roy can not move when Gwendolyn gives them to the

count of three to get out. It’s up to the gentlest of them all to save the toughest of them all.

A cheering story about the power of a gentle heart.



This is the second picture book in the insect series.

Watercolour and gouache illustrations.

"Nincompoop," says Roy Malone, making me jump as he walks into the cave. “Only a nincompoop would think he could trick me that easily.”

I back up from him. “What trick, what do you mean?”

“Liar-liar-pants-on-fire,” says Roy. “You came in here to hide didn’t you? That’s what snails do. They slip away and hide under the rocks. They never face the music.”

Out of the tunnels she runs, taking me with her. Through the cave entrance we burst, clearing the rocks outside in one bound.

 “Get it off!” she yells. “Get it off!"                                   

She dives into the grass. We career through the garden.
Cold water streams through my veins.

By the time dad and Nana reach us, Roy and I stand side by side. Roy tells them I saved his life. He says, "He has the strength of any cockroach."

Dad says, “I'm proud of you son.”

Nana Thoms says, “I knew it.” Click. Click. And she winks her good eye.

I look at where we’re standing. It’s exactly where we started from. “You’re not going to believe this,” I say to Roy, “I think I made it back to the starting point first. That means…”

Roy says, “You won?”

Go here to see the third picture book in the insect series. Go here for the first book.