It was a matter of some urgency: a wolf was loose in the woods. And being loose in the woods, he could get into the garden. "Whatever you do," said Dad. "Don't go out the gate. You don't want the wolf to eat you." Laila went out the door, but the wolf was already in the garden. "There you are!" he cried. "I was wondering where you got to." "What are you doing here?" she cried. "This is my garden." "Well," said the wolf, "you're not in your garden. You're in my garden now." *** Dreamy tomboy, Laila meets Cyril, a rebellious gnome and passes through a charmed gate into the Garden. Here she meets Mr Whizz and fulfils her dream to become a rider of cornies. When the shape-shifter Smarm and his army of loopy wolves capture her gnome friends and steal the magic strawbs, Laila and Cyril help the Mistress Dido win them back.