SOLVED. Children's Book, three kids go into magical cave and meet mythical animals [s]

[Arden]

The book starts out with I think three kids who are on their summer vacation. They meet some sort of bird, a parrot or owl, in a cage. And that bird also has a spider as a pet. It talks to them, and persuades them to help him. They go to a cave, and on the way the see or take a train os something. So they enter this cave and its practically an entire new world. There are trees that have corks for bottles. At first there are fields, they have unicorns that can talk. Then they are on a river, and eventually crash. The main point of the story is that the are trying to help save the land or something. They end up besieging a castle with other creatures. They are helped by something like ferrets who talk and came in hot air balloons. They visit a dragon, and there may even be islands in this land/cave. then the one creature i remember distinctly is the yellow and green cow, that has a snail's shell for a body. On the snail's shell they have faucets to give cream, and milk. Also their goo left from sliding can be hardened and be used for things. the cover was yellowish and purple. I think it may have been published before 2000, but definitely before 2004. does anyone recognize this?

[Shanna_redwind]

I think I might know the book you're talking about.

I'm pretty sure that it's The Talking Parcel

I read it as a kid and loved it. The book was also published as Battle for Castle Cockatrice

[Arden]

oh my goodness yes that's it! i never thought anyone would answer! thank you so much!

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Congrats Arden. Glad you found your book. I'll shelve it and move this down to "Solved" for you.