Kids into books: Stella Steller in Horace Snatchfat & The Aliens

Author: Simon Grant

Age: 6-9 years

Illustrator: Kate Wells

Publisher: Breaksea Productions, $14.95


The next morning Stella got up early. She set a trap in her room, using a thick piece of rope, a sheep's skull, a fishing od and a bucket of dried cicada skins.

Stanley, her stick insect, was poking his head out of his house made of toilet rolls, but she didn't have time to explain things to him. She gave him a kiss from the end of her finger, and went straight down the rickety stairs to her dad.

Stella's dad was lying on a couch reading a book in the porthole room, which stuck out the side of the house like a lumpy wart.

There was a funny smell in the air.

"Hi Stella," he said, not looking up, "want some porridge for breakfast?"

"No thanks. I've got to go and sort out the aliens. I'm taking my crocodile torch, in case they don't like crocodiles or bright light. And I'm taking my prickly notebook."