Kelsey and the Quest of the Porcelain Doll Read online

  ‘I – I didn’t. I don’t understand—’

  ‘Was it because we used Shakila’s name?’

  ‘I just told you a story, that’s all, with help from you, Kels.’

  Amy Jo’s eyes were blinking and suddenly Kelsey didn’t want to ask any more questions.

  ‘Amy Jo can hear us, Nanna, and I don’t want to upset her. Thank you for telling the story or she might not have arrived at all.’

  Nanna Rose’s face grew very pale.

  ‘Are you okay, Mum?’ Kelsey’s dad asked.

  ‘I think so, it’s just so strange.’ Then she smiled again. ‘But it’s also amazing.’

  When Dad shut down the laptop Kelsey took Amy Jo to her room.

  ‘You are incredible, Amy Jo. More special than anyone in the story knew.’

  Amy Jo blinked her eyes as Kelsey hugged her tightly.

  ‘We will have so much fun. Especially since I know you have feelings. Wait till I tell Shakila.’

  Kelsey undid Amy Jo’s plait and brushed her golden hair. Then she put Rubi’s clip back in.

  ‘You can sleep with me every night,’ Kelsey said. ‘You’re home now.’

  That night moonlight shone through the window as Amy Jo lay cuddled in the crook of Kelsey’s arm. It was just what she had wished for when she waited for so long on the shelf in the Teddy Bear Shop: someone to love her. Amy Jo had completed her quest at last.

  She knew now there were many people to love her, like Zebi, Rubi and the old tailor, but Kelsey was the one she was chosen for.

  Amy Jo opened her eyes and watched Kelsey breathing softly. Kelsey’s fair eyelashes quivered and her golden hair curled around her cheek. If Amy Jo could move she would have reached out and touched Kelsey’s face.

  Abu – Dad

  accha – good

  Alhamdulillah – God be praised

  Allah – God, usually used by Muslims in Pakistan

  ao – come

  beta – son

  beti – daughter

  billie – cat

  chai – sweet milky tea

  chapatti – flat bread cooked on the stove

  charpai – a light bed with a string or rope netting; often called a string bed

  chup – quiet

  dost – friend

  gudiya – doll (pronounced goodiya)

  hathi – elephant

  janab – sir

  ji – yes (short for ji hahn). Also used after names as respect

  Khuda – God, usually used by Christians in Pakistan

  qameez – shirt or top

  rupee – the monetary currency of Pakistan

  salaam – hello (meaning peace to you)

  salaam ji – hello dear one

  samosa – a fried pastry filled with vegetables or minced meat

  shalwar – baggy pants or trousers

  shalwar qameez – outfit of clothes with baggy long pants and long loose shirt

  shukriya – thank you

  teik hai – fine, okay

  Ummie – Mum

  wah – bravo, wow

  Kelsey and the Quest of the Porcelain Doll is based on stories I told my own daughter, Lenore, in Pakistan when I knew a porcelain doll was on its way to her for Christmas from her nanna. She called the doll in the story Amy Jo after Amy Jo Inniger who was her ‘big sister’ in boarding school. Lenore never guessed that the stories were about a doll intended for her and when she opened her gift from Nanna she got such a surprise and named the real doll Amy Jo too. Lenore and I can’t remember the exact stories about the doll but the concept of Kelsey and the Quest of the Porcelain Doll is the same. I loved the story of The Tin Soldier and The Lost Coin when I was young and, later, The Velveteen Rabbit. I have always been fascinated by the adventures of lost things before they are found and loved again.

  I have many people to thank. My daughter, Lenore, who has yet again encouraged me to write a story; Makayla and Amelia for all your ideas and listening to the story as I was writing it; Wendy Noble for being an early reader with helpful suggestions; Janeen Brian for reading it too and for your encouragement; Gracie Allen for your helpful tips and liking this adventure story; Kristina Schulz and Kristy Bushnell at UQP for your confidence in this story, fabulous expertise and clever ideas; and Eunice Hill for finding the family of the real Amy Jo.

  The book Kelsey is reading is The Four Seasons of Lucy McKenzie by Kirsty Murray.

  KUMIKO AND THE DRAGON

  Briony Stewart

  Winner – Aurealis Award for Best Children’s Literature

  Notable Book – 2008 CBCA Book of the Year Awards

  Kumiko doesn’t like going to bed. She can’t sleep. The reason she can’t sleep is the giant dragon that sits outside her bedroom window every single night.

  So one night she plucks up the courage to ask the dragon to leave, not knowing that the truth she is about to discover is more thrilling than anything she could ever have imagined.

  This delightful story will take young readers on a soaring dragon adventure, as Kumiko discovers a strength she never knew she had.

  ‘Briony Stewart’s story about a girl facing her fears is perfect for early readers. It’s full of humour, wisdom and adventure.’ Sunday Age

  ‘In Kumiko and the Dragon Stewart creates a colourful, magical world.’ Good Reading

  ISBN 978 0 7022 3619 8

  First published 2014 by University of Queensland Press

  PO Box 6042, St Lucia, Queensland 4067 Australia

  www.uqp.com.au

  [email protected]

  © Rosanne Hawke 2014

  This book is copyright. Except for private study, research, criticism or reviews, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission. Enquiries should be made to the publisher.

  Cover design by Jo Hunt

  Cover and chapter illustrations by Briony Stewart

  Typeset in 14.5/21pt Mrs Eaves by Post Pre-press Group, Brisbane

  Printed in Australia by McPherson’s Printing Group

  Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

  National Library of Australia

  http://catalogue.nla.gov.au

  Hawke, Rosanne, author.

  Kelsey and the quest of the porcelain doll / Rosanne Hawke.

  ISBN 978 0 7022 5331 7 (pbk)

  ISBN 978 0 7022 5446 8 (pdf)

  ISBN 978 0 7022 5447 5 (epub)

  ISBN 978 0 7022 5448 2 (kindle)

  For primary school age.

  Cultural awareness – Juvenile fiction.

  Homesickness – Juvenile fiction.

  Dolls – Juvenile fiction.

  A823.3

  University of Queensland Press uses papers that are natural, renewable and recyclable products made from wood grown in sustainable forests. The logging and manufacturing processes conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin.