Help! The basilisks are completely out of control!

Gerald Durrell's most unusual story, because it is about the most extraordinary animals - mythical ones!

That is to say, these are not the observations of a naturalist, but nothing less than a fairy tale. An incredibly captivating fairy tale, one of the best in world literature.

The action begins in Greece, the author's favorite place, where two boys from England arrive to visit their sister for the holidays. The children go for a swim and find an unusual parcel on the beach, from which a strange conversation can be heard. Inside, they discover a parrot and a spider - both of whom are sentient. They are messengers from the land of Mythlandia, which was created for mythical animals by the kind wizard H.H. This land is inhabited by unicorns, dragons, phoenixes, mermaids, will-o'-the-wisps... Despite the different interests of all the inhabitants, the wizard had until now managed to maintain peace and order there. But the wicked basilisks have decided to seize power, to wipe out or enslave all the other animals and H.H. himself. Without intervention, a terrible fate threatens Mythlandia, so the children rush to help. On an old steam train, they travel through the night and over mountains, reaching a mysterious cave - the entrance to Mythlandia.

And in Mythlandia, it is beautiful: purple grass, a golden sea, bottle trees, sunsets for every taste and preference, and even moon-carrots, from which delicious treats can be made. And, of course, this wonderful land holds many, many more surprises; at every step, the heroes will encounter something interesting. Do you want to know how phoenixes burn in their nests? Why does magic rue make stoats ferocious? What do griffins need gold for? Would you dare to descend into the sinister dungeons of the basilisks' castle or find yourself on a werewolf island at night? Then hurry and open "The Talking Parcel" - inside is a real treat for adventure-loving elementary school children!