Laureate by Wasp

Puzzle explanation

Omitted letters spelt "Entered with A Squash and a Squeeze", referring to the first book written by Julia Donaldson (the current Children's Laureate) and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, which was published 20 years ago. Squashing/squeezing two letters into each unchecked cell of the unclued entries completed six more of their titles: MONKEY PUZZLE (2ac), THE SNAIL (12ac) and THE WHALE (30ac), The GRUFFALO (6dn), ROOM ON THE BROOM (8dn), STICK MAN (18dn) and TIDDLER (22dn).

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Answer Explanation
Across
8 R(E)TINA TIN in RA
9 RA(N)GOLI GLORIA *
13 MAN(T)A MAN + A
14 SELFN(E)SS S + ELF + (N + S) + S
15 (R)OSINA IN in (O + SA)
17 BEN(E)FIT N in BEFIT
19 (D)EPAINT ET around PAIN
21 HAY(W)IRE YAH < + I’ + R(eigat)E
23 MACHA(I)R R after MACHA(n)
25 EIDEN(T) I in EDEN
26 ROCK-(H)EWN (ON WRECK) *
28 H(A)DN’T H + D(ri)N(ks) T(oo)
31 MADNES(S) (SEND + AM) <
32 EXE(Q)UY (U + Y) after EXE
33 LION-H(U)NTER (NORTH LINE) *
Down
1 B(A)TTA (de)BT TA(xes)
2 MI(S)HNIC HIM < + N(ow) + I/C
3 KANDA(H)AR (K + AND + R) around AA
4 ERAS(A)BLE (LAS(t) + BEER) *
5 U(N)ABLE (TABLEAU − TA) *
6 LOWN(D) LOWN
7 ELAST(A)NCE (STEEL CAN) *
11 INSI(S)TENTLY INLY around (TEN in SIT)
16 S(Q)UAMOSAL (A + MO) in SUS + AL
19 EB(U)RNEAN ERNE around B + AN
20 PEETWE(E)T TWEET * after PE
24 HEXEN(E) HEX + E + N
27 CADI(Z) CADI
29 NEUM(E) NEU + M
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