Beautiful Bananas is an imaginative picture book in the African folktale tradition.

A little girl sets off through the jungle to take a beautiful bunch of bananas to her grandfather.

On the way she encounters a number of wild, but friendly animals who take her bananas, but then apologise and replace them with various treats, until finally an elephant gives her another bunch of bananas.

A beautiful circular tale, the kind of which often appears in folklore around the world.

This particular story is often heard in East Africa.

Elizabeth Laird is a high profile, award-winning author who has been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and has won the Smarties Young Judges prize.

She is also a specialist in African folklore. Her acclaimed works include When the World Began published by Oxford University Press.

Liz Pichon is an exciting new children's book illustrator who has worked on a number of successful reference series for Oxford University Press.