Kids into books: Night Race to Kawau

Author: Tessa Duder

Publisher: Puffin Books, $12.95

Age Group: 8-12 years


Mr Starr, knowing that his elder daughter took a few minutes to get her eyes open, was shaking her shoulder again.

"Please, Sam. I want you to go along to your grandfather's place and get a key."

"What on earth for, so early in the morning? William won't even be up."

"Oh yes he will. He gets up at daybreak and goes for walks along the beach.

He could beat you any time at getting out of bed.

Anyway, we need the key for the dinghy locker for the night race tonight. I've left my key at school, and Mum will need it first this afternoon. She reminded me to bring it home yesterday, but I forgot."

He sounded as sheepish as a small boy. I might have known, thought Sam, another conspiracy to rescue Dad from a ticking off from Mum, for leaving everything to the last minute.