Born in Sassari, Bianca Pitzorno lives and works in Milan. Much loved by young readers, she has published over forty books for children and young people since 1970, many of them bestsellers. Today Bianca Pitzorno is considered Italy's foremost children's writer, and her novels have been translated into French, German, Spanish, Greek, Polish, Hungarian, Korean and Japanese. She is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

All children dream of having a secret house where they can live on their own, far from any rules and regulations. But not all of them are as lucky as Aglaia, who lives at the top of a magical tree together with her friend Bianca and an incredible host of flying dogs, talking cats, carnivorous flowers and children who speak in verse.

Inventively illustrated by Quentin Blake, Aglaia's adventures - and her battles with the gruff Signor Brullo and the woodmen who want to cut down the tree - are sure to enchant and inspire the imagination of every child.

Bianca Pitzorno is one of the most famous children's authors in Italy and I thought I'd bring her work to the UK with this simple and funny story, beautifully illustrated by Quentin Blake.