Aubrey and the Terrible Ladybirds is the second thrilling anthropomorphic adventure in a trilogy by Horatio Clare. Aubrey is shrunk to the size of an earwig and travels on the back of a swallow to learn about ‘The Great Hunger’. He discovers that pesticides and intensive farming methods are having a detrimental effect on the wildlife of Europe. This may seem like a strange premise for a children’s novel, but it’s not the main theme and Branford Boase winner Clare has a deft touch; he’s an incredibly witty and wise storyteller. There are other themes at work in this rich and fantastic story – immigration, tolerance and respect; but ultimately this is a novel about the universal truths of love, compassion and kindness – to each other, the environment and animals.