A Book for Kids

In Short

This vibrant anthology of rhyming verse and short prose stories captures the daydreams, observations, and daily adventures of Australian youth. From imaginative career fantasies about bakers, sailors, and publishers to dramatic forest fires and cosmic rides across the night sky, the collection balances lighthearted humor with atmospheric bush folklore. It has endured as an Australian classic because it honors the unsophisticated, vivid imagination of young readers while offering a affectionate, rhythmic portrait of rural and suburban life.

The Story

The collection opens with a stern warning from a elderly gentleman who insists that books must be treated as cherished companions rather than discarded toys. From this framing premise, the book launches into a series of playful character vignettes and rhythmic poems centered on everyday adult professions. A narrator considers what it would be like to step into the shoes of a baker delivering sweet cakes, a postman, a butcher riding to farms, a tram-man heading to the bay, or a barber wielding sharp shears, always attaching a humorous personal catch: he would gladly take the job, provided he gets to enjoy the perks or avoid the hazards, like sea-sickness or running out of cake.

Interspersed among these occupational verses are narrative prose tales that stretch far beyond the everyday town. In one extended story, a lonely Little Red House perched high on a mountain valley mourns the departure of its inhabitants, the tinker Sym and Emily Ann. As a fierce cloud-burst and howling winds sweep across the mountain, stripping the neighboring Blue-gum tree of its leaves and knocking down surrounding timber, the house weeps rain-drops into the mud, terrified of being left behind forever. Its sorrow transforms into sudden joy when Sym and Emily Ann return down the winding path, bringing life back to the hill.

In another sprawling adventure, a boy named Neville spots a strange cloud shaped like a horse descending a bald hill. Summoning his courage, Neville mounts the Cloud Horse and flies high into the glowing West, penetrating the golden gates of the sunset itself. There he meets the Last Sunbeam—a small man in yellow—who gives him a Sky Flower talisman and charges him with a cosmic task: to race West faster than the earth rotates, passing through the Dawn guarded by a grey-clad porter, speeding past cities, ocean waves, and forest fires in the dark of night, and returning home before dinner. Neville succeeds, leaping off the horse over his own hill and floating safely down like a feather.

The book rounds out its journey by turning its lens back to the natural world and the quiet rhythms of the Australian bush. Poems celebrate the tireless rhythm of the axeman felling timber in the hills, the simple patience of a farm cow chewing grass by the sliprails, and the mischievous antics of native wildlife, from blue-wrens to bunyips. The author concludes by reflecting humorously on the exhausted effort of writing and drawing the book itself, wishing the young reader a fond good night.

How It Unfolds

The advice of an elder An old gentleman admonishes a young boy to respect his books, warning him that those who mistreat their reading grow into gawky boys who lack wisdom.

Occupational daydreams A child imagines taking up various trades—baker, pieman, sailor, and tram-man—weighing the fun of each job against the mild discomforts that might come with it.

The mountain storm Left empty by the travelling tinker Sym and Emily Ann, a sentient Little Red House weeps tears of rainwater while a wise old Blue-gum tree helps it weather a terrifying gale.

Riding the cloud horse Challenged by a magical white horse, young Neville leaps onto its back and rides into the sunset, where he receives a magical Sky Flower to navigate a trip around the globe.

Racing around the earth Neville flies across oceans, dark cities, and blazing island forests, passing the Porter of the Dawn and returning to his hill just in time for dinner.

The axeman's effort Deep in the gum forest, an axeman steadily chops a massive tree while parrots screech, wallabies watch from the ferns, and chips fly to the ground.

Homeward bound A child wanders past the local blacksmith, the sweet shop, and the creek, offering clever excuses to his mother for taking the long way home.

A weary good night The author bids farewell to his young readers, admitting how tired he is after writing lines and drawing pictures for their entertainment.

The People

• The Narrator / Child: Curious and imaginative, this central perspective dreams of exploring various adult occupations, wanders through the bush, and ponders life's small mysteries.
• The Old Gentleman: A gruff, ancient figure who sternly advises children to value their books, reminding them that reading brings wisdom and companionship.
• The Little Red House: A sensitive, expressive home nestled on a mountain lap; it longs for human company and grows deeply miserable whenever its owners travel away.
• The Big Blue-gum: A centenarian tree standing beside the Little Red House; calm, resilient, and experienced, it offers sensible advice during scary storms.
• Neville: A brave and inquisitive boy who refuses to be called a "cowardly-custard," prompting him to mount a cloud horse and journey through the sunset.
• The Last Sunbeam: A small man dressed in yellow who manages the end of the day; practical and overworked, he provides Neville with the Sky Flower talisman to complete his journey around the world.

In Its Own Voice

"Mark--ME--boy! Your book should be your friend."

An old gentleman offers firm advice on how a child ought to treat his reading material.

"I tell you I'm crying!" wailed the Little Red House. "I'm crying bitterly. I should know, shouldn't I? I'm shivering and crying because I'm cold and lonely and miserable."

The deserted little cottage laments its isolation as heavy rain streams down its window-sills.

"This," he said, handing the flower to Neville, "is a Sky Flower. It is made entirely out of a genuine piece of sky, and it is a talisman--that's a longer word for charm, you know--which takes you free round the world."

The Last Sunbeam explains the magic item that will allow Neville to safely race the sun.

What It's Really About

Underneath its playful rhymes and magical adventures, the book explores the vibrant inner life of childhood, where play and fantasy make sense of the vast world. It balances a child's yearning for independence—seen in Neville's wild flight or the narrator's dreams of adult professions—with a deep need for security, represented by the warm return to home, family, and a warm supper. Beyond human adventures, the collection champions a warm, respectful connection to nature, portraying the Australian bush, its animals, and even its trees as full of distinct personality and quiet wisdom.

Why Read It Today

This collection offers a delightful window into early 20th-century Australian children's literature, combining bouncy, memorable verse with classic storytelling. Readers who enjoy rich language, rhythmic poetry, and whimsical lore will find much to love in its pages. The book’s tone is consistently lighthearted, marked by a warm wit that never talks down to its audience.

While the writing is remarkably approachable, modern readers may occasionally encounter historic bush dialect, traditional colloquialisms, or period attitudes—such as minor references to traditional discipline or dated cultural terms—that reflect the era in which it was written. Additionally, the shift between short, snappy rhyming poems and longer prose narratives creates a varied reading rhythm. Nevertheless, its vivid portraits of native birds, bush life, and childhood wonder remain thoroughly captivating, leaving readers with a joyful appreciation for the power of a simple story.