ISBN The Boy Who Sprouted Antlers (Classic Reissue) book 48 pages

It is nearly the summer holidays and Billy Dexter and his classmates are trying to finish making their wicker baskets. Their craft teacher, Miss Beddows, is so appalled by Billy’s efforts that she keeps him in after class for a pep talk. ‘As long as you set your mind on something and try hard enough, there’s nothing you can’t do.’ Billy loves the idea that he can do anything, but his friends, Melanie and Paul, don’t agree. ‘What about growing horns?’ suggests Melanie. It is a challenge Billy has to accept.

Brimming with humour and written in John Yeoman’s child-centred, matter-of-fact style, this story from 1961 is vividly illustrated with Quentin Blake’s inimitable drawings. It was the second in a long line of the duo’s collaborations, following soon after their first book, A Drink of Water.

About the Author
John Yeoman was for many years Head of English at the French Lycée in London. His collaboration with Quentin Blake began in 1960 with A Drink of Water, and has resulted in a long list of successful children’s books.Sir Quentin Blake is an internationally celebrated illustrator, known for his collaborations with authors such as Roald Dahl, Russell Hoban, John Yeoman, David Walliams and Joan Aiken. A winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal and the Hans Christian Andersen Award, he received a knighthood in 2013. He is the series consultant for The Illustrators and in 2019 published his illustrated edition of John Ruskin’s King of the Golden River.