The wizard she helped in the last book, Algernon Rowan-Webb, has invited all of the second year to stay at his coastal castle for a little holiday and Milly has an idea to break Tabby out of his life of mouse catching. She is beside herself, but there may be hope. The book starts off rather badly for Milly, as they always do, as she is forced to replace her lovely, though hopeless cat, Tabby, with a more professional and elegant cat, Ebony.

It seems these books run one term per book, their school has two terms per year and this is the fourth book, so she is in the second term of her second year. Mildred is back again, this time with water! In the same year it was adapted as a play and performed at the Polka Theatre, London. The Last Noo-noo won the 0-5 category of the 1995 Smarties Book Prize and in the same year was shortlisted for the English 4-11 Outstanding Children's Book of the Year, going on to win the 1996 Sheffield Children's Book Award. All in One Piece was highly commended for the 1987 Kate Greenaway Award and shortlisted for the 1987 Children's Book Award. Five Minute's Peace won the 1987 Parents Magazine Best Books for Babies Award, as well as being shortlisted for the 1986 Children's Book Award. She is best known for the very popular Mr and Mrs Large picture books, which detail the domestic chaos of an elephant family. A Quiet Night In was shortlisted for the same medal in 1994. She is also well known for her picture books and was commended in the 1980 Kate Greenaway Medal for Peace at Last. They were also made into a major ITV series.

The Worst Witch stories have become some of the most outstandingly successful titles on the Young Puffin paperback list and have sold more than 3 million copies. However, Jill continued working as a nanny until the publication of The Worst Witch Strikes Again prompted her to devote herself to full-time writing.

The book was published when Jill turned 24 and proved an instant success. Mildred Hubble is very much a self-portrait! She put the book on hold as she attended both Chelsea and Croydon Art Schools, but continued to write it whilst living in a village in Togo, West Africa for a year and then whilst working as a nanny back at home. Jill Murphy was born in London and attended the Ursuline Convent in Wimbledon which, together with the boarding school stories she enjoyed reading, provided much of the material and inspiration Miss Cackle's Academy in the The Worst Witch, which she started when she was 15. She has been described as 'one of the most engaging writers and illustrators for children in the land.' Jill Murphy is a London-born English children's author, best known for The Worst Witch series and the Large Family picture books.

The worst witch at sea