Kids into books: Blabber Mouth

Everyday the Herald carries an extract from a childrens' book as part of its commitment to children's literacy.


BLABBER MOUTH

Author:Morris Gleitzman

Publisher: Macmillian $12:95

Illustrator: Nigel Buchanen

Age group 8-10 years


Oh no, now Ms Dunning's trying to pick the lock with the staff-room knife. One of the other teachers is telling her not to cut herself. The Principal's telling her not to damage the staff-room knife.

I hope she doesn't cut herself because she was really good to me this morning.

I was an Orange-to-Dubbo-phone-line-a-heap-sized bundle of nerves when I walked into that classroom this morning with everyone staring. Even though we've been in the district over a week, and I've seen several of the kids in the main street, they still stared.

I didn't blame them. In small country towns you don't get much to stare at. Just newcomers and old men who dribble, mostly.

Ms Dunning was great. She told everyone to remember their manners or she'd kick them in the bum, and everyone laughed. Then when she saw the letters me and Dad had photocopied she said it was the best idea she'd seen since microwave pizza, and gave me permission to hand them round.

Tommorrow: It's OK, I don't leak.