Lina at the Games by Sally Rippin

heart:
    Echidna
    Dingo
    Possum
    Wallaby
    Kangaroo
    Platypus
    Weevil
    Emu
    Quoll
    Wombat
    Crow
    Parrot
    Galah
    Koala
    Lizard
    Frog
    Poppy smiled as she deciphered the message.
    Po3, third letter in Possum ‘S’
    Po1, first letter in Possum ‘P’
    D2, second letter in Dingo ‘I’
    Ka6, sixth letter in Kangaroo ‘R’
    D2, second letter in Dingo ‘I’
    Pl4, fourth letter in Platypus ‘T’
    Pa6, sixth letter in Parrot ‘T’
    Ka6, sixth letter in Kangaroo ‘R’
    E1, first letter in Echidna ‘E’
    E1, first letter in Echidna ‘E’



Here’s a sneak peek at Meet Rose
    W HEN Rose heard the soft tap on her bedroom door, she joined her brother, Edward, in the dark corridor. Apart from the distant sound of Father snoring and a few birds in the trees outside, all was quiet. Edward was carrying his cricket bat and ball, and he grinned at her, his teeth white in the gloom.
    They crept down the wide staircase, past the tall stained-glass windows above the landing and out the front door, closing it behind them with a click. Dawn painted the sky a pale pink and dew coated the lawns.
    â€˜Happy birthday,’ Edward whispered. ‘You want to bowl first?’
    â€˜Of course!’ Rose said.
    They avoided the crunchy gravel on the driveway and ran around to the back of their huge house, past the stables and down to the farthest corner, where Edward had set up his wickets. He’d promised to play cricket with Rose on her birthday, and this was the only chance they’d have before Mother would wake up and come looking for her.
    Edward poked at the grass with his bat. ‘It must’ve rained last night.’
    Rose laughed as she warmed up her bowling arm, swinging it around and up. ‘Not making excuses already, are you Ed?’
    â€˜Just bowl,’ Edward said.
    The ball floated through the air, bounced, and Edward swung at it, clipping it on the edge. It disappeared into the bushes behind him. Rose grinned. She loved bowling her tricky spinners, and even though Edward was older and taller than her, she’d soon get him out and then she could have a turn.
    They’d had one bat each when a shrill voice called, ‘Rose! Are you out here? Rose?’ It was her governess, Miss Parson.
    Rose wanted to run and hide in the bushes, but that would only get her into more trouble. She handed the cricket ball to Edward. ‘I’d better go before she busts a boiler.’
    Miss Parson was waiting near the kitchen door, a scowl on her narrow, pale face. ‘What were you doing out so early?’ she asked.
    â€˜Walking,’ Rose said. She wasn’t in the habit of telling fibs, but surely a small lie to Miss Parson didn’t count. ‘It’s a lovely morning.’
    â€˜Hmph.’ Miss Parson followed her inside and up the stairs. ‘Your mother expects you down for breakfast in five minutes, and your boots are dirty.’
    â€˜Yes, Miss Parson.’
    In her bedroom, Rose poured cold water from the flowered jug into the bowl and washed her hands and face, shivering at how icy it was. She used the hand towel to clean her boots, and brushed her dark, unruly hair. There. Surely Mother wouldn’t scold her on her birthday? Miss Parson came in without knocking and Rose glared.
    â€˜Come on, hurry up,’ said Miss Parson. ‘And pull up your stockings. They’re a disgrace.’
    Rose yanked them up and heard an awful ripping sound. She looked down at the large hole she’d just made. ‘Oops.’
    Miss Parson huffed loudly. ‘Too much haste, not enough care – as usual.’
    â€˜But Sally will mend it in an instant!’
    â€˜And what will you learn from that?’ Miss Parson asked. ‘No, you can sew it yourself today instead of working on your doily stitching. Or I can tell your mother and let her give you a suitable punishment.’
    Sewing was already like a