Kids into books: The Wild West Gang

The Wild West Gang

Author: Joy Cowley

Publisher: HarperCollins, $12.95

Age group: 7-9 years

MUM SAID SHE nearly died. That wasn't true. But it was a shock for her. She and her sister don't get along. And here was Auntie Rosie West, Uncle Leo West and the five West children moving into the next street.

'They'll be round here every minute of the day,' she moaned to Dad. 'Hide the goldfish,' said Dad. He was remembering last Christmas when the baby tried to wash her dirty pants in the goldfish bowl.

'They'll want to sit with us in church!' Mum cried. 'It's not just those kids. Rose forgets to brush her own hair. She goes to church in old jeans and with safety pins in her jacket. Leo's always got food down his shirt.'

Then Mum saw me listening. She said quickly to Dad, 'Rose and Leo are very kind. They'd do anything for anyone. I'm not judging them. I'm just saying they're not strong on tidiness and good manners.' She looked hard at me. 'We don't ever say anything to hurt them. We just leave them alone to get on with their lives. Do you understand, Michael?'

I nodded, but inside I was jumping up and down and laughing. Wow! The Wests were coming!

There was my cousin Royce with orange hair and freckles, who could crack his knuckles, invent things and whistle between his fingers like a shepherd. Then there was Miranda, my age, with more red hair and freckles. She could do a double backward flip and walk on her hands as well as play the guitar and yodel.

The twins, Johnny and Jeannie, were seven. They had brown hair and dark eyes like Auntie Rosie. Johnny danced. He was learning ballet. He had a set of real carpenter's tools. Jeannie could swallow air and do huge belches. She had a mouse farm that took up nearly half her bedroom.

I didn't know the baby's real name. Everyone called her Honey. She was two years old and she had red hair but a lighter colour than the others. She also had six toes on each foot. Auntie Rosie said that showed she was extra special. All angels had six toes, said Auntie Rosie.

The Wests were moving into a big old house with a backyard full of trees. I couldn't wait.

• Monday: The Wests are ... different.