Nicole Jussek

My favorite of our books with main characters named "Opal". Opal and Seymour are brother and sister. Seymour charges a toll for Opal to get to her bedroom. When she runs out of money, she plays interestingly in her room until he can't stand being without her any more, and not only stops charging the toll, he lends her his walkie-talkie for her expedition to the North Pole. Meanwhile, her father cooks dinner and sings opera, while her mother paints. A charming family.