The Heron And the Crane - Tapa dura

A heron and a crane live at opposite ends of a swamp and when the crane decides to get married he approaches the heron. The heron turns him down because of his knobbly knees and because she thinks he won't provide her with enough food. The crane returns to his nest feeling rejected and soon the heron feels guilty and visits his nest to accept his proposal. The crane gives a stony glare and turns her down but later feels miserable and decides to offer the heron a frog and another proposal - thistime the heron's pride is hurt so she rejects him again! The two birds go backwards and forwards proposing and being rejected and are probably doing so still!

Quentin Blake has illustrated more than three hundred books and was Roald Dahl's favourite illustrator. In 1980 he won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal. In 1999 he became the first ever Children's Laureate and in 2013 he was knighted for services to illustration.