Kids into Books: The Kids From Quiller’s Bend

Author: Marle Gibson

Illustrator: Linda McClelland

Publisher: Shortland Publications, $8.95

Age Group: 10-12 years


If you look at a map, you won't find Quiller's Bend. But it is there, halfway up Hill Road. That's why I've drawn my own map of the area.

They call it Quiller's Bend because Mr Quiller was born there at number seventeen. It's a narrow, grey, stone house with a high, pointed roof and three tall, skinny chimneys.

All of us kids really like old Mr Quiller. He waves to us every morning, and gives us treats when we take his mail in to him. He is special to me because he gave me my first china animal - a tiny giraffe.

"If you're not allowed to have any real pets," he said, "would you like this instead?" It was the beginning of my collection.

But best of all, it was Mr Quiller who finally stopped Albert Perkins from hassling us.