A.B. Paterson (text) and Kilmeny and Deborah Niland (illustrators), Mulga Bill’s Bicycle (50th anniversary ed.), HarperCollins Publishers, April 2023, 32 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781460763728
The illustrated picture book of A.B. (Banjo) Paterson’s Mulga Bill’s Bicycle poem was first published in 1973. It is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the release of a new edition of this much-loved Australian children’s classic.
Paterson is an iconic and highly acclaimed Australian poet of the late 19th Century, whose famous works include Waltzing Matilda and The Man from Snowy River. Mulga Bill’s Bicycle tells a story of the mishaps of a “would be” cyclist who thinks he is much better at cycling than he turns out to be. After a hair-raisingly dangerous bike ride, which ends with a crash into the creek, he realises that he prefers his trusty horse as a mode of transport.
This picture book version of the 1896 poem has endured for 50 years for good reason. Besides the poem being playful and amusing with the rich language and punchy beat and rhythm of a master poet, Kilmeny and Deborah Niland’s accompanying illustrations brilliantly capture the slapstick humour and comic drama of the storyline. There is an appealing absurdity to their cartoon style illustrations with exaggerated features and facial expressions. The pictures also support comprehension of Paterson’s classic poetic language and depict the styles and colours of the era and the rural Australian backdrop.
Mulga Bill’s Bicycle is an entertaining introduction to classic poetry for children in the early primary years. Some lesson ideas are on the Reading Australia website.
Having this classic picture book available again in print is a welcome opportunity for libraries and other consumers of picture books.
Reviewed by Barbara Swartz
