Kids into Books:The Week Of The Jellyhoppers

Author: Pauline Cartwright

Illustrator: Martin Bailey

Publisher: Shortland Publications, $8.75

Age: 11-12 years


"I thought it was a dog," said Isobel. She had sat up and twitched back the curtain to peer across the fields below the clear night sky. "I didn't actually look up."

"You might have seen it if you had. Think of that!" said Mrs Hopgood, and she polished the brass candlestick with a vigor that made it shine as much as the delighted smile on her face.

"Could we have a dog?" Isobel suddenly piped up.

"You've asked that before - about seven hundred and sixty-five times before, in fact. No," said her father. "Now, hurry up. We'll shoot up to this farm before there are too many people there."

A dog, thought Isobel, wouldn't have to be left behind if she and Dad had to move again. She wouldn't have to explain who she was to a dog as she had to with people.