Keeping Cotton Tail

Paradise House #6

by Hilary McKay

There are no pets allowed in Paradise House. So when Kathy arrives with a secret rabbit there are big problems for everyone. Nathan and Anna do their best to help, but in the end it is Danny who comes up with a plan for Keeping Cotton Tail that just might work!

78 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2000

About the author

Hilary McKay was born in Boston, Lincolnshire and is the eldest of four girls. From a very early age she read voraciously and grew up in a household of readers. Hilary says of herself as a child "I anaesthetised myself against the big bad world with large doses of literature. The local library was as familiar to me as my own home."

After reading Botany and Zoology at St. Andrew's University Hilary then went on to work as a biochemist in an Analysis Department. Hilary enjoyed the work but at the same time had a burning desire to write. After the birth of her two children, Hilary wanted to devote more time to bringing up her children and writing so decided to leave her job.

One of the best things about being a writer, says Hilary, is receiving letters from children. She wishes that she had written to authors as a child, but it never occurred to her to contact them

Hilary now lives in a small village in Derbyshire with her family. When not writing Hilary loves walking, reading, and having friends to stay.

Reviews

[Mariann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nooremana olid Hilary McKay lasteraamatud mu suured lemmikud ning olen üritanud neid ka endale koju soetada. Poelettidelt on need küll ammu läinud, kuid teiselt ringilt on õnnestunud nii mõnigi saada. Viimasena suutsin raamatuvahetus.ee kaudu endale krabada Paradiisimaja laste kuuenda loo "Villsaba".

Paradiisimajja on kolimas uus perekond, mistõttu majahoidja vana McDonald peab tühjana seisnud korterist oma kola välja tõstma. Ta ei taha asju ära visata ning kingib need heast südamest teistele majaelanikele, kes väga ei rõõmusta, kuid ära ka ei suuda öelda. Uues peres on väike tüdruk Kathy, kes endast esmalt halva mulje jätab. Ta hoiab omaette, sest plikal saladus - jänes Villsaba, aga Paradiisimaja asukatel pole lubatud loomi pidada. Niisiis võtavad lapsed kampa ning asuvad ühiselt plaani hauduma, kuidas lemmikut varjata

Taas Dannyst, Nathanist ja Annast lugeda oli nostalgiline. Mulle meeldivad Paradiisimaja laste igapäevased seiklused väga, sest Hilary McKay suudab oma lugudesse panna nii palju südamlikkust ja kambavaimu. Lugu ilmestavad ka kaunid pildid Tony Kenyonilt.

Hilary McKay on inglise kirjanik, kelle armastus raamatute vastu sai alguse juba väga varajases eas, sest ta on pärit perekonnast, kus kõik on lugejad. Lugejast kirjanikuni on vaid väike samm ning kui naine raamatuid looma hakkas, siis tuli ta töölt ära. Hilary lemmik osa ametist on lastelt tulevad kirjad. Eesti keeles on autorilt ilmunud lisaks Paradiisimaja lugudele veel Koer Reede triloogia ning "Saffy ingel", mis on üks raamat Cassoni pere seeriast.

"Villsaba" lugemine tekitas mul soovi terve sari üle lugeda, kusjuures viiendat osa "Üllatuspidu" pole mulle üldse kätte sattunud. Soovitan kõiki Hilary McKay südamlikke lasteraamatuid!