Betty Steady and the Queen’s Orb

By: Nicky Smith-Dale, Sarah Horne - illustrator

Narrated by: Sebastian Humphreys

Betty and her Wobbly Rock pals are are off to celebrate the famous Turnip Festival in the kingdom of Upper Crust. Betty is still as tiddly as a piece of toast. What could possibly go wrong THIS time?

For fans of You’re A Bad Man, Mr Gum and Grimwood!

The VIPs of Wobbly Rock can’t wait to attend Queen McNiff’s legendary Turnip Festival in the neighbouring kingdom of Upper Crust. But when Betty meets a fashionable forest sprite called Misty Jamjar, it dawns on her that perhaps her old pals aren’t as sophisticated as she once thought.

Misty convinces Betty that being small ain’t all it’s cracked up to be. If Betty can help Misty break into the Queen’s heavily guarded vault, they might just be able to gain access to the Orb of Ogg. This legendary Orb has the potential to change Betty back to her original, stunning height. GOLLY GHERKINS! It’s not as if Misty Jamjar is a secret baddy or anything. And Betty isn’t going to accidentally become as tall as a massive giant. That would be ridiculous.

©2025 Nicky Smith-Dale, Sarah Horne (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers

A hysterically funny family listen

Sebastian Humphreys gifts listeners of any age with a wonderful array of character voices in this absolute gem of a book. Nicky Smith-Dale has written a laugh-out-loud funny modern fairytale with a feisty heroine, that is also a moving little book about friendship and honour.