Kids into Books: The Week Of The Jellyhoppers

Author: Pauline Cartwright

Illustrator: Martin Bailey

Publisher: Shortland Publications, $8.75

Age: 11-12 years


"I'm coming," she said, poking the remains of her egg under a crust. "If we had a dog, he could have come, too. For the walk."

"You might get to talk to the scientists!" Mrs Hopgood said to her, thrilled at the importance of such a thought. "They'll want to talk to everyone who saw or heard anything. Anything at all."

"It was probably just a dog," said Isobel. "Anyway, I don't want to talk to anyone."

Mr Miro narrowed his eyes a little, the way he did when he was slightly worried. "Of course you do. Oh, not the scientists, of course. But you might meet some of the children who'll be in your class when school starts."

Isobel wished her father wouldn't mention school. The thought of another whole roomful of strange children was more than she could stand.