Roll Over Pavlova compiled by June Factor

Australian rhymes and chants, riddles, and wordplay are just a few of the things covered in this book compiled by June Factor. It contains common expressions you may well hear Australian children singing, chanting or just talking about. There is even a section for adults. Here is one I can remember chanting as a child although we used to sing pencil-case instead of pillow-case:

Fatty and Skinny had a race

Up and down the pillow-case,

Fatty said it wasn't fair

Because he lost his underwear.

and then there is this one:

Naughty child

Angry Mum

Wooden spoon

Sore bum.

Now for some insults, taunts and threats:

Ice-cream and jelly

And a punch in the belly.

Don't look so sad, don't look so blue,

"Cause Frankenstein was ugly too.

Liar, liar, pants on fire,

Nose as long as a telephone wire.

Once Upon a More Enlightened Time by James Finn Garner

Calling Hayley, Simon and Lucinda (yeah I know I have already overloaded you with books Lucinda and Simon) but you will maybe appreciate this one. Okay, here's how the first fairy starts..very politically correctly!

Deep in the forested bioregion stood a small, humble chalet, and in that chalet lived a small, humble family. the father was a tree butcher by trade, and he was doing his best to raise his two pre-adults named Hansel and Gretel. The family tried to maintain a healthy and conscientious lifestlye, but the demands of the capitalist system, especially its irresponsible energy policies, worked carelessly to smother them. Soon they were at a complete economic disadvantage and found themselves unable to live in the style to which they had become accustomed, paltry though it may have been...

Read the politically correct version of:

The Ant and the Grasshopper

The Princess and the Pea

The Tortoise and the Hare and...

MANY MORE

Beware this is only for students who love challenging texts!