Long ago when the world was brand new, before animals or birds, the sun rose into the sky and brought the first day. To begin with, all the creatures were pretty much alike - very different from what they are now. Those that wanted to be lions practised being lions. But there were other creatures - including the whale, the elephant, the cat and the donkey - that came about in different waysâ?¿Ted Hughes' classic text is accompanied by the beautiful illustrations of Jackie Morris to bring a lyrical and witty version of the creation myths to young readers.

Ted Hughes (1930-1998) is ranked as one of the best poets of his generation. His final two collections won the Whitbread Prize for Book of the Year in successive years. He was Poet Laureate from 1984 until his death in 1998. In the same year he had been appointed to the Order of the Merit. He wrote children's stories and poetry throughout his life.

JACKIE MORRIS lives in Pembrokeshire, Wales, with children, dogs and cats. A best-selling author of more than 30 books for children, she was shortlisted for the Greenaway Award in 2016: the UK's biggest picture book prize. Among her many books for Frances Lincoln are The Ice Bear, The Snow Leopard, Tell me a Dragon, and How the Whale Became by Ted Hughes.