Extract
It was the day before Pippa's birthday, and everything had to be perfect for her party. In fact, it had to be more than just perfect – it had to be perfectly perfect.
In the big house where Pippa lived, people were very busy.
Bernie, the cook, was making the perfect birthday cake.
Jed, the stable boy, was getting the ponies ready for perfect pony rides.
Dot, the dressmaker, was finishing Pippa's perfect party dress.
And Bella, the hairdresser, was getting ready to do Pippa's hair in a perfect ponytail.
Pippa had been brought up to be a proper little lady.
When people came to visit, she was always very polite.
When she went to dinner parties, she always used her best table manners.
When she did her lessons, she always sat up straight in her chair.
And when she went to birthday parties, Pippa always, always wore her hair in a perfect ponytail.
News
{ view all }All That I Am by Anna Funder has won the Barbara Jefferis Award.
The award is offered annually for “the best novel written by an Australian author that depicts women and girls in a positive way or otherwise empowers the status of women and girls in society”.
Anna beat fellow Miles Franklin contenders Foal's Bread and Cold Light.
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