All over the English speaking world kids know and recite the rhymes of Lynley Dodd. I was camping in the Middle East several years ago and a group of children, on hearing I was from New Zealand, starting reciting Hairy MacLary. They followed this feat up with much of Slinky Malinki and the story of Bottomley Potts. It has always surprised me that Lynley doesn’t get made more of a fuss of at home.

That being so I am very glad about this piece of news.