The Wouldbegoods | E. Nesbit

The Bastable children have been banished to the country in disgrace - following a particularly damaging re-enaction of a jungle scene featuring expensive stuffed animals and a garden hose. In this sequel to E. Nesbit's The Treasure Seekers, itself published by Hesperus Minor in 2013 with a foreword by Julia Donaldson, the gang of six, Dora, Oswald, Dicky, Alice, Noel and Horace Octavius (H.O.), decides to turn over a new leaf. Spurred on by Dora's urgings, the children found 'The Society of the Wouldbegoods' - aiming to mend their ways by being good whenever possible. But the schemes they undertake to try to be good and make themselves useful never seem to quite go to plan. Even when they are attempting to be well behaved, they seem unable to endear themselves to adults, instead, amongst other things, they cause a fire, some flooding, get held hostage and find time to purchase a pistol along the way. It seems that despite their best intentions, they are destined to leave a trail of destruction in their wake - and to be, well, frankly, naughty.