Worzel Gummidge and Saucy Nancy — Barbara Euphan Todd

When Worzel hears that John and Susan have gone on holiday to the seaside, he decides that he and Earthy Mangold should join them. In the town of Seashell he finds a kindred spirit in the ships figurehead, Saucy Nancy, and a series of adventures follows, including one in which Earthy Mangold is swept out to sea. This is the fourth in the series of Barbara Euphan Todds Worzel Gummidge novels and it dates from 1947. The Worzel Gummidge stories were broadcast on the popular Children's Hour on British radio and two of them were featured in TVs Jackanory. 1979 saw the birth of a successful television series based on Worzel Gummidge and other characters from the books, with Jon Pertwee playing the eponymous scarecrow, which still has a dedicated following to this day. The book is read by the multi-talented Jessica Martin, who infuses the stories with verve and excitement.