Kids into books: The Illustrated Mum

Author: Jacqueline Wilson

Illustrator: Nick Sharratt

Publisher Randon House, $14.95

Age Group: 8-11 years


My piece of paper was getting seriously crowded by this time but I managed to cram in a CD player with lots of Emerald City CDs and some high heels and a bikini and jeans and different coloured tight tops and lots of rings and bangles and earrings.

I was getting a bit stuck for ideas by this time and I'd rubbed out so often that the page was getting furry so I gave up and coloured it in. I wanted to do a pattern of marigolds as a border but Star had used up the orange already, so I turned the marigolds into roses and coloured them crimson.

Red roses signify love. Marigold was very into symbols so I hoped she'd understand. Then on the back I did a great garland of red roses to signify a whole bunch of love and signed my name.

We gave her presents too. Star found a remixed version of Emerald City's greatest hits for only $2 at the Saturday morning market. I bought her a sparkly hair clasp, green to match her eyes. We even bought a special sheet of green tissue paper and a green satin ribbon to wrap up the presents.

Tomorrow: Great green eyes filled with tears.