Waltzing Matilda: Australian Classics for Little Ones

Waltzing Matilda: Australian Classics for Little Ones by Banjo Paterson, edited by Kathryn England, illustrated by Cate James (Penguin Random House) HB RRP $14.99 ISBN: 9781761355103

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

A swagman camps by a billabong and steals a sheep that is drinking the water. When police arrive, the swagman jumps into the billabong and swims away. Kathryn England has edited Banjo Paterson’s Waltzing Matilda for young readers, creating a gentle introduction to this Australian classic.

In addition to Banjo Paterson’s dynamic words, each eye-catching spread of the board book features a colour and a number from one to ten – ‘1 ONE green parrot feather’, ‘2 TWO grey koalas’ and so on. As youngsters aged three to five look for the named things in the accompanying illustration, they are mastering their colours and numbers in an enjoyable way.

The bright and appealing illustrations by Cate James bring the swagman’s story to life, and cleverly incorporate the colour and number lessons. Small eyes will adore searching the images for four yellow waterlilies, eight white clouds, ten orange yabbies and more, and seeing the expression on the fluffy jumbuck’s face as it is captured and eventually released.

A cute twist on a traditional counting book, Waltzing Matilda: Australian Classics for Little Ones deserves a place on every Australian child’s bookshelf. Literature and learning combine to create an illuminating sing-along experience with every turn of the page.