Josephine Wants to Dance

Josephine Wants to Dance by the team of Jackie French and Bruce Whatley yet another of their excellent picture books about Australian animals.

Josephine loves to dance. She dances all day. Her brother, Joey, reminds her that kangaroos jump. She doesn't jump - she dances.

When the ballet comes to town she watches every rehearsal until she knows the parts. And she is ready to step in when the prima ballerina hurts her ankle.

By the end of the book everyone is dancing - including the Wombat.

French, Jackie and Bruce Whatley. (2007). Josephine Wants to Dance. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers.

Diary of a Wombat

Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French, illustrated by Bruce Whatley, is my new favorite picture book!

Wombats are cute little creatures who live in Australia. They are slow moving, often sleeping, creature who can have an attitude so people generally let them do as they please.

This wombat has decided that the everyday grass she has been eating is boring and look to her new human neighbors for new and exciting treats.

She discovers that humans are each to train and make good pets.

French, Jackie and Bruce Whatley. (2002). Diary of a Wombat. New York: Clarion Books.

In A Sunburned Country

Bill Bryson is a well known travel author who might be just a bit mad. In his account of Australia - In a Sunburned Country - he captures the feel of the country while continuously warning potential visitors to keep away.

Filled with history and lore, Sunburned, is a history/travel/dangerous animal account. Bryson points out that almost every animal, insect and fish in Australia has the potential to kill. They have the deadliest spider, snake, jellyfish, croc, etc...

At the same time he paints a picture of a friendly, HUGE country that is worth the risk.

One sentence description (for class): This whirlwind tour of Australia, as told by a quirky narrator who balances each awe-inspiring sight with a deadly creature, will leave readers wondering whether to rush to or run from the Land Down Under.

Bryson, Bill. (2000). In a Sunburned Country. New York: Broadway Books.

The Rabbits

The Rabbits by John Marsden and Shaun Tan, the winner of the 1999 Australian Picture Book of the Year, is the story of colonization.

With powerful and scary pictures, this is the tale of conquest, industrialization, and ecological destruction told from the natives' point of view. This is an allegory of the story of Australia. The British are the rabbits, Aborigines are kangaroos.

This book will scare adults! Children may miss some of the messages hidden in the pictures, and the concepts that are too grand for their level of world knowledge.

Amazing book!

Marsden, Johna & Shaun Tan. (2003). The Rabbits. Simply Read Books.