Kids into Books: Two Weeks with the Queen

Author: Morris Gleitzman

Illustrator: Nigel Buchanan

Publisher: Macmillan, $12.95

Age group: 8-10 years


Colin stared at them for a while but that didn't plunge them into guilt either, so he went back to watching the Queen.

he wondered what it would be like to be that important. So important that it didn't even matter if you spoke like a total prawn, millions of people all over the world would sit down on Christmas afternoon and say shhhh and listen to you.

In his head, Colin started composing a letter.

'Dear Your Majesty The Queen, I would be very grateful if you could send some tips on how to grab people's attention and make them listen to you, understand what you want for Christmas etc. Even though I'm twelve I might as well be a lump of wood for all the attention I get around this place. Also some tips on how to stop younger brothers getting everything. I understand that chopping their heads off has been used a bit in your family. this is frowned on in Australia so something legal please...'