Kids into books: The Cabbage Patch Fib

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

This week's title: The Cabbage Patch Fib

ByPaul Jennings

Illustrated by Craig Smith

Puffin Books. $10.95.

Age group: 7 to 9 years.

Dad hadn't noticed because he was too busy pretending not to be watching Doctor Who on the TV. It is a rule in our family that the TV is not on at tea time but somehow or other Dad never notices it is on until Doctor Who is over.

Suddenly Dad saw the piece of spaghetti and he began to throw a wobbly. "Take that disgusting thing out of your nose," he roared at Chris. "You are a hopeless child."

Dad started to go purple. Then he began banging his head up and down on the table next to his plate. "What did I do to deserve this? he moaned. "First the boy puts a length of spaghetti up his nose and then when I ask him to remove it he sucks it in his mouth and swallows it. Doesn't anyone in this family have any table manners at all?"