Frané Lessac, The big book of Australian nursery rhymes, Walker Books Australia, March 2024, 96 pp., RRP $26.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781760656980
A wonderfully imaginative Australian adaptation of 29 traditional nursery rhymes. While retaining the original rhythms and basic narratives, each verse features a well-known bird or animal.
They are illustrated with brightly coloured gouache drawings presented against plain but bold backgrounds for maximum contrast. Delightful endpapers of gum nut flowers effectively complete the production.
Reading aloud or singing nursery rhymes is an age-old way to encourage listening and to introduce language and this collection will provide endless hours of fun. For example: ‘Here we go round the banksia bush’, and ‘Rock-a-bye Joey’. Perfectly suited for that early childhood age category.
Reviewed by Elizabeth Douglas
