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.

Petal and the Really Hard Riddle

Petal and the Really Hard Riddle by Kathryn England, illustrated by David Allan (Christmas Press) PB RRP $13.99 ISBN 9780648194545

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

This slim chapter book is based on the Rumplestilskin tale. Petal’s father constantly boasts of his daughter’s prowess from growing super-sized pumpkins to juggling flaming torches while hopping on one foot. When Dad says Petal can spin straw into gold, the king calls for the miraculous girl.

He sets Petal up in a room in the centre of which is a spinning wheel and a bundle of straw. While Petal is wondering how to get out of this tricky situation, a crooked little mad with a long beard climbs through the window. It’s Rumplestilskin’s twin brother Riddlestilskin. He promises to spin gold if Petal can answer a series of riddles.

This is a lively reworking of a tale probably unfamiliar to today’s readership of five to nine-year olds for whom it’s intended, but the story is easy to follow with simple text in a well-designed book. Each chapter is illustrated with black and white drawings which make reading easier.

Katie and the Leprechaun

Katie and The Leprechaun by Kathryn England, illustrated by Emma Stuart (New Frontier Publishing)
PB RRP $12.95
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton


On her way to school, Katie O'Reilly bumps into a leprechaun named Paddy. Katie discovers that Paddy is a one-shoe maker and is on the look-out for new ideas. Eventually, once Katie recovers from the shock and amazement of meeting one of the little people, Katie helps her new friend come up with a solution to his dilemma.

Emma Stuart's bright colourful illustrations are dotted throughout the book. The pictures will delight readers and assist them by reflecting the story and breaking up the text. I particularly liked the depiction of Katie with her messy pigtails and freckles.

Katie and the Leprechaun is part of the new junior fiction series, Little Rockets. The books are of a high production quality and perfect for newly independent readers with easy to follow plots and likeable characters.