Kids into books: Biddy Alone

Author: Wanda Cowley

Illustrator: Susan Opie

Age: 7-10 years

Publisher: Mallinson Rendell, $14.95



Mr Wallace bent down and stroked Kit. "Would you rather stay and live with Nana for a while then?"

"You mean you and Mum go without me?" Biddy looked up at her mother. Mrs Wallace was wiping her hands down the front of her smock. Her eyes were swimmy with tears.

"That"s the only other choice, Biddibid."

"But Dad."

"Yes?"

"You know Kit"s never been much of a hunter. You said he"s too well fed to even catch mice."

"I know. I know. We had to buy a mousetrap last winter."

"He"s such a sleepy old thing. How old would he be in our years?"

Mr Wallace rubbed his ear. "Oh, about seventy I should say, give or take a year or two."

"Well, what"s wrong with taking a dozy old grandpa cat who isn"t even a hunter?"