Matilda Mudpuddle suddenly felt strong. She stuck her fork in her lamb chop and her fork bent double. She cut the chop with her knife and the plate broke in half! In her latest adventures, Matilda Mudpuddle gains incredible strength after eating some canned spinach her travelling grandfather has brought back from Spain. She puts her new powers, which will only last a month, to very good use: she helps to win the tug-o-war for her school; she defeats the Strong Man at the country show; she deals with the school bully...and much more. In the end she discovers that being strong outside is a wonderful asset, but being strong inside is what really counts.