Part Two!
I was reading Miss BooBook's blog about her favourite book "Possum Magic" - so I thought I would play this game too with a vintage Aussie theme.
And I'm sincere - this is really my favourite book! C.J. Dennis "A Book for Kids" (1921)
I remember an American friend of mine laughing about how understated Australian names for things are: "General Store" (which was at the end of my street) for example cracked him up!
I love how this book is just called what-it-is. I love how its not even called "THE" Book for Kids. Its just "a" book for kids. One of many - no big deal.
CJ didn't have any of his own kids - but he wrote these stories and verses for his little friend Bert who ended up in hospital after a gun accident. Boohoo!
I love the biographical tale of him being brought up by a bunch of maiden aunts who made him dress like a big girly square in county South Australia - leading to him being teased by all the local lads who called him a "sissy boy". Swoon! I love a nice Aussie sissy boy! I wish I could've met him.
Here are two cool verses because - I love getting parcels and I love eating things from the bakery.
Go to my Flickr to read them, and my all time favourite CJ Dennis poem HIST HARK! (TAKE A RUN THROUGH POSSUM PARK WITH ME!)
xx Gemma
PS - Stay tuned for further installments
Wow, how do you know all this about Dennis? Have you read a biography? What's it called. I'll hunt it down.
ReplyDeleteoh, in the edition I have it has a short 3 page introduction which has some cute biographical facts. It took me so long to even find this copy of the book! (20 cents at the Camberwell Market in the end! sweet!)
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