For Ilaria, Alessia and Rob D.M.
First published in 2022 by Nosy Crow Ltd
The Crow’s Nest, 14 Baden Place, Crosby Row, London, SE1 1YW
Nosy Crow Eireann Ltd, 44 Orchard Grove, Kenmare, Co Kerry, V93 FY22, Ireland www.nosycrow.com
ISBN 978 1 83994 496 3
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Text and illustrations copyright © David Melling 2022
The right of David Melling to be identified as the author and illustrator of this work has been asserted.
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This is Ruffles. Ruffles loves . . .
singing . . .
scratching . . .
eating . . .
fetching . . .
sniffing . . .
digging . . .
running . . .
chewing . . . and sleeping.
But Ruffles does not love loud noises.
Loud noises make Ruffles . . .
crouch . . . and skitter . . . and run . . . and creep . . . and scoot . . . and run . . . and jump . . . and stare . . . and run!
There’s only one thing worse than loud noises . . .