First published in Great Britain by HarperCollins Children’s Books in 2018
Published in this ebook edition in 2018
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Text copyright © Adam Baron 2018
Illustrations copyright © Benji Davies 2018
Cover and interior illustrations copyright © Benji Davies
Adam Baron and Benji Davies assert the moral right to be identified as the author and illustrator of the work.
A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.
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Source ISBN: 9780008267018
Ebook Edition © 2018 ISBN: 9780008267025
Version: 2018-06-04
Almost all of this novel is dedicated to
Ben and Ollie Robinson.
The first line of page thirty-eight is
for their parents, though.
Contents
Here’s something you won’t believe.
I, Cymbeline Igloo, have never been swimming.
It’s the swimming bit you won’t believe, by the way, though if you don’t believe my name either, it really is Cymbeline Igloo, and you have to believe that because it’s written on my schoolbag and in my jumpers and on lots of other things, like my passport. You won’t believe I’ve never been swimming because I mean totally never. Not ever. Not once, in my whole life. I am nine years old! I am the third-best footballer in Year 4 (joint) and the second-best at roller-skating after Elizabeth Fisher and she goes to a club on Sundays. I am fit and healthy and totally normal in every way (apart from my name) but I have never set foot in the sea, a river or a lake, not to mention an actual, normal, everyday swimming pool.
Not in my life.
Until last Monday.
I blame my mum. Totally. She’s just never taken me. Not as a baby, not as a toddler, not when I was at