Previews - Children's Books
Matilda and the Swagman
Author: June Wills
ISBN: 0 646 28777 X
Publisher: June Wills
Address: 2 Melrose Street, Lane Cove, NSW, 2066
"You'll come a waltzing Matilda with me" - we've heard the
line often enough, but who is Matilda?
If you don't know, then this charming and poignant little story will provide
the answer. And in doing so it introduces a possibly surprising multicultural
slant to this most Australian of theme songs while maintaining the swagman
as a national icon, tramping the dusty backroads and sleeping under the
Southern Cross.
Tubby's Magic Sock
Author: Bruce W Cooke
ISBN: 0 646 25803 6
Publisher: Bruce W. Cooke
Address: C/- 16 Darghan Street, Glebe, NSW, 2037
Tubby, the hopeless, the worst footballer, the worst cricketer, the
worst basketball player, the butt of all schoolboy jokes, has his world
turned around when Grandpa gives him a magic pair of socks.
After a shocking football season followed by a worse cricket season, Tubby
is at his lowest ebb disgracing himself with fumble fingers on the basketball
court watched by his Grandpa, a legendary player.
He only has one friend, Allan, the generous-spirited, good all- rounder
and the salvation of school sporting events. There is his dog, Brandy. But
Brandy is an unreliable ally - his favourite occupation being generalised
destruction of anything he can get between his teeth.
Realising he could do with some help, Grandpa promises "I'll give you
a secret that will guarantee your success, but you must promise you'll never,
never tell anybody this secret." And so Tubby becomes the proud owner
of the magic socks that revolutionises his life. Demonstrating the power
of the socks, Grandpa shows him how the socks need help with some tips on
the game.
From the all-round loser he becomes the all-round winner.
Tragedy first strikes when Brandy shreds the socks but Mum is prevailed
upon into a repair job. Worse is to come when Tubby lets slip his secret
to horrible Kevin who has made and continues to make his life miserable.
Without his socks Tubby cannot perform and Grandpa again comes to the rescue
with Mum as an ally.
By the grand final, Tubby has learned the real secret of the socks - that
the magic is within yourself and you only have to believe.
This touching tale of the finding and giving of self-esteem follows the
classic traditions of children's story-telling and Tubby is not only able
to get on with his own life with confidence but has gained an understanding
of those who seek to bully and torment.
Mr Greebob's Fairy Tales: Book One
Author: Johanna Browne
ISBN: 0 646 25497 9
Publisher: Johanna Browne
Address: 22 Bowering Hill Road, Port Willunga, SA, 5173
A mother of three, Johanna Browne enjoys inventing new fairy stories.
As with all fairy stories the general outlines are familiar. In this collection,
written with very young children in mind, the stories are primarily, although
not exclusively, set within an Australian landscape. They include the adventures
of creatures such as Spike, the curious echida, Speedy, the red kangaroo
who gives Spike a ride on his tail when the need for speed dictates and
E.W. a resourceful wombat who is clever at making nearly everything.
In "The Spectacular Night", the ballerina is a mute swan, the
Spanish Dancer, a red-tailed cockatoo and the tap trio, three fairy penguins.
- If you'd like to purchase a copy of one of the books listed above please
contact the publisher directly. Their address is just under the title's
listing.
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