The worst birthday ever

Soon-to-be eight-year-old Daffodil likes the dictionary, the middle bit in custard cream biscuits, and thinking big. She does not like her cousin Hugo Patterson-Dent, who has ten more gold stars than she does; the biscuit bit of custard creams (but that’s OK because her friend Nirmal-Next-Door eats that); or any sort of catastrophe. The trouble is that somehow Daffodil’s ambitious plans tend to go pear-shaped. Daffodil is hoping for the best birthday party ever! But she hasn’t reckoned on Colin, the greyhound with an appetite for everything except dog food. Or the fact that her brother’s band Hairy Wasp would break up before they could provide the entertainment. Or the total lack of guests. Luckily, Daffodil has the knack of looking on the bright side and is soon planning her next absolute bobby-dazzler of an idea!