“Every night we say the same old good night,” Fox complained.

Rabbit had a think. “What if we say it with different words for ‘good’ and ‘night’?” Fox agreed to try, and he thought of something at once: “I wish you a happy new darkness!”

“And I wish you a merry dusk!” said Rabbit straight back. “Soft shadows, Rabbit!” “Magnificent moonlight, Fox!” Fox and Rabbit live quite far away, in a bright little house beyond the mole hills.

If they can’t sleep, they count the good nights (335 in total). When they wish each other a good night, the rustling pear tree, the raspberries and the stars join in.

Sometimes they swing on the lightshades. These heart-warming stories of friendship, fun and life in the country have everything it takes to become family favourites.