Five marvellous stories about some very resourceful children and their adventures in the wide world: Meet Lindalou, who makes a wondrous flying boat and sails to Kathmandu, timid Andy Umm, who talks to animals and tames a lion, curious Ferdinand, who cures the prime minister with the help of his magic spectacles, Ignatius Binz, whose magnificent nose picks up the faintest whiff of danger, Valentina Lookwell, who paints people as they really are, Wendelin B. Wordforce, who writes down their stories and Aristan, the magic spider, as golden as a dab of butter, who befriends them all.