Thomas and the tinners - Jill Paton Walsh

The miners' work is hard, so they need their tasty lunchtime pasties. When new recruit Thomas shares his meal with a strange, tiny miner, he is rewarded by being granted a wish. But soon, more strange, tiny miners appear, each of them demanding food - and no pasty is large enough to satisfy their hunger. Thomas regrets his kindness, but when he and the miners face an even bigger problem, it seems that his new friends may just hold the answer . . .

With an engaging story told in short chapters, and illustrations in black and white and colour on every double-page spread, this short novel is ideal for newly confident readers.