Kids into Books: House of Huxtable

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Author: Joy Lowe

Illustrator: Brent Putze

Publisher: Mallinson Rendel, $15.95

Age group: 8-11 years


Toby's hand crept into Quinn's. His eyes filled with tears as they anxiously searched her face. 'Are we happy, Quinn?'

'Course we are Toby,' Quinn lied. She lied a lot to Toby to keep him happy.

His smile was briliant. 'Good-oh,' he said contentedly.

Mum's shoulders were sagging. 'It's going to take more money than we've got to even make it liveable.'

'But it's a good house,' Grandad said. 'My grandfather built it out of all the best materials. And let's face it, Mary,' he said to Mum, 'it's ours. Dear old Auntie Nell was good enough to leave it to me in her will. At last we've got a place we can call our own.'

Mum smiled weakly and gave Grandad a hug. 'I know Dad. I'm sure everything is going to work out just fine.' She put on her let's-make-the-best-of-it-in-front-of-the-children face and said, 'Well kids, what are we waiting for? Let's go and inspect the place.'