A children’s book · Ages 6–8
Quinella’s
Pipe
Trouble has come to Fennel Field. A garden full of animal friends must find the courage to rescue the moles and bring Twitchwell home.
Catherine Eden
The story
When Twitchwell the squirrel hears that there is trouble on distant Fennel Field, he sets off from the home garden to see if he can help. He finds a desperate situation: the digging machines are coming to tear up the field, and the mole colony is trapped. The moles hope that Twitchwell will somehow be able to lead them to safety, but he has no idea what to do.
His family, Firby and young Tweed, learn of the situation on Fennel Field. With the help of their friends in the garden, and Quinella, the porcupine who lives at the mouth of the storm water pipe, they use all their skill and courage to come up with a plan to rescue the moles and bring Twitchwell home.
Meet the characters
Twitchwell
the squirrel
Brave and kind-hearted, he sets off alone to help the moles of Fennel Field.
Firby & Tweed
his family
When news reaches the home garden, they rally every friend they have.
Quinella
the porcupine
Wise and prickly, she lives at the mouth of the storm water pipe.
The author
Catherine Eden
Catherine Eden writes adventure stories for young nature lovers. Quinella’s Pipe follows a community of animals living in a garden, and the courage they find when their friends need them most.
What readers say
Did anyone else go through a ‘tween animal story phase? I remember that sometime after my Nancy Drew fascination but before I got into Tolkien and Terry Pratchett, I spent many happy afternoons up in my favourite tree, reading Tarka the Otter, The Snow Goose, Watership Down and Duncton Wood.
“Quinella’s Pipe, by Catherine Eden, reminded me a lot of these classic animal tales — with the added delight of the creatures and the setting being recognisably local.”
The book traces the adventures of a community of creatures in a semi-urban garden as they race to help their friends the moles escape to safety after their home is invaded by property developers. The characters include a set of slightly co-dependent frogs, a charming leopard toad, a family of squirrels and Quinella herself, a wise porcupine based on a real-life counterpart who lived nearby the author — just as she does in the story.
The book would make good bedtime reading for little kids and a book that older children could read by themselves. The story includes lots of action (one of the best bits is a heroic resuscitation effort by one of the humans in the story), charming illustrations and a heart-warming outcome.
A young reader
“I’ve just finished reading your book and I think that it was amazing and fascinating but most of all inspiring for children, including me, because it is so packed full of adventure and mischief that it even makes me want to write a book!”
My favourite character was Tweed, because, like I said, he is so mischievous. I also liked the two crows, Scraw and Aark, because once again, they’re so mischievous.
Last but not least, you were so clever with the names. For instance, Aark: similar to the sound a crow makes; same with Scraw. Firby: well, squirrels are furry. Twitchwell: some squirrels move sort of twitch-like. And Diglas: well, moles dig! And so on. Your book was amazing, and I really liked it.
Order your copy
Paperback, posted to your door. A lovely gift for young nature lovers.