FRUITLESS EFFORTS

28 Jan 92

I finished my story this morning about Mimi the toddler, Stewart Bacon and Myrtle the cow. As usual I've no idea if it works or not. I'll have to think up a title, then screw up enough courage to post it.

THE CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD 17 May 92

The moment came at last for the winner to be announced. A boy was called out to open the envelope. He seemed to take forever. At last he tugged and ripped it open and said, "It's Kiss the Dust." I was taken completely by surprise. Too late, I realised that I hadn't prepared a speech and that my vest was showing. I managed to babble something and turned to face about twelve cameras which all flashed together like a giant crackling sparkler.

  The finalists then had to pose for ages for photographs. Our smiles became fixed.

  "I'm getting repetitive strain injury in my cheeks," said Sally Griffin.

  "Think of something funny," said Dick King-Smith. "Mrs Thatcher fell in a cow-pat."

  We all roared with laughter.

  "In New Zealand," I said, "you say 'kiwi', not 'cheese'."

  "If this photographer doesn't buck up," said Dick King-Smith, "I'll be saying 'wee-wee'."

A READER LOST TO THE NATION 7 July 92

A large woman was in the library this afternoon with a toddler called Nicholas. While I was reading through the picture books, Nicholas was trying to take books off the shelves. The woman kept telling him not to, and was trying to make him play with the plastic chairs instead. Eventually, she said, "I'm training not to take the books down."

 I was so astonished by this behaviour in the library that I didn't say anything. I'm furious with myself for being such a coward now. She stayed there for three quarters of an hour, discouraging her child from looking at books.

  There's another reader lost to the nation.