About the Author

Joanna Nadin was born in Nottingham. She is a former broadcast journalist and Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, and continues to freelance as a political speechwriter. She has also been a cleaner and a juggler.

Reviews

Don't miss the comic genius that is Penny Dreadful, a wickedly funny new creation and worthy contender to Horrid Henry.
*The Bookseller*

A brilliantly written and illustrated laugh-out-loud book recommended for children aged 7+ years. The book contains three hilarious stories about a little girl called Penelope Jones (aka Penny Dreadful to her family) and her 'brilliant ideas' that never quite go according to plan. From hairdressing to abandoned dogs to huge swarms of locusts...mayhem, drama and disaster are all part of a day's work for Penny Dreadful and her best friend Cosmo the Jedi!
*First 4 Dads*

A wonderful book for children and child-like adults; particularly those with a slightly silly sense of humour, a love of chaos, and an aptitude to giggle in a group.
*An awfully big blog adventure*

Chortlingly good fun, this girl would give Horrid Henry a run for his money.
*The Evening Echo (Cork)*

She's very clumsy, but we love her... [A] lovely series of books about a clumsy little girl. Be prepared for hilarious tales of the mishap, mayhem and misadventure that comes hand-in-hand with Penny.
*Primary Times*

Penelope Jones and her friend Cosmo are the kind of children whose best intentions always seem to evolve into a full-blown disaster. Like shaving the cat's head whilst practising to be hairdressers, for example. Hence, Penny's nickname, coined by her father. In this series of funny, pacey short stories, Penny gets into four different scrapes. Easy to read and lots of fun - though it might give your child some dangerous ideas...
*Junior magazine*

Penelope Jones is pretty much the kind of child you might visualise if asked to imagine the result of Horrid Henry and Charlie's little sister Lola growing up and starting a family together. Impulsive, inventive, and essentially well-meaning but utterly lacking any sense of risk assessment, Penny's explanations for the trail of destruction she leaves behind her wherever she goes are delivered in lengthy, breathlessly articulate, Lola-esque sentences, and are always entirely reasonable from her perspective.
*Teach Primary*

Side-splittingly funny.
*The Bookseller*

Short, funny, standalone stories following Penelope Jones through a catalogue of disasters, whether the dog she befriends swallows the baby monitor or the school inspector is due or she tries to cut her cousins hair...With strong storylines, these are easy flowing tales that are great to read aloud, perfect as well for the 6+ reader to get stuck into. The fun and funky illustrations also help the stories along.
*We Love This Book*

The kind of child you might visualise if asked to imagine the result of Horrid Henry and Charlie's little sister Lola growing up and starting a family together.
*Teach Primary*

The stories are very funny with Penny getting deeper and deeper into scrapes while all the time her intentions are innocent, something many children and indeed adults will find familiar. Boys as well as girls will race through these stories giggling all the way!
*Booktrust*

Three hilarious stories in one in this book about likeable but disaster-prone Penny...Written in the first person, Penny rambles her way through all sorts of incidents in a really amusing fashion - this would be a great book to read aloud to a class because of the way it is written. At the start of the book, the reader is introduced to a cast of amazing characters and there are lots of entertaining pictures. Great fun and Penny is set to become very popular.
*Parents in Touch*

Three hilarious adventures that will amuse boys and girls alike. Laugh out loud with Penny Dreadful and her friends,
*Ed on the Web*

Will captivate young readers.
*Carousel*

With lots of great illustrations and graphic text, and a full spectrum of odd and eccentric characters, Penny Dreadful is sure to make you laugh out loud.
*Bookfest*

With three wicked, fun-filled stories in one book and packed full of charming illustrations, Penny's crazy capers are pitched perfectly for children aged seven and over.
*Pocklington Post*