Ernie Dances to the Didgeridoo: For the Children of Gunbalanya [Anglais] [Relié]

K-Gr 2-Lester first introduced these characters in Clive Eats Alligators (Houghton, 1986; o.p.), and this book is their sixth adventure together. Here, Ernie is going to live in an area of the Australian Outback for a year, and will write a postcard during each of the area's six seasons. With each postcard comes a little vignette of the boy's new friends engaging in typical activities for that time and place, with one child being showcased at the end of each section. The text is appropriately simple-"Patrick spears a barramundi" needs no embellishment for dramatic effect-and serves primarily to support the illustrations. Lester's watercolor and fine black-line creations are crisp and engaging. They portray happy children having fun and at the same time convey a wealth of information about life in Arnhem Land. This is a nicely designed, informative, and enjoyable addition, perfect for use with multicultural units. An author's note, glossary, and pronunciation guide are included.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Ages 4-7. The gang from Celeste Sails to Spain (1999) and other adventures returns in this entertaining picture book. This time the friends bid farewell to Ernie as he departs for a year's stay in Arnhem Land, an aboriginal reserve in Australia's Northern Territory. Ernie writes each of his six friends a letter describing one of Arnhem Land's six seasons and relating the activities of his new friends. Lester's colorful, snapshot-size illustrations depict the activities, a few familiar (catching frogs and playing football) and many new and different. The ending double-spread shows Ernie's American friends playing Arnhem Land style: "Celeste is a stilt dancer. Clive wears body paint. Rosie makes damper." There isn't a lot of information here, but the book provides bits and pieces about the climate and some aspects of the aboriginal culture. A glossary explains new terms. Lauren Peterson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Ernie says goodbye to his friends Rosie, Frank, Tessa, Nicky, Clive, and Celeste, and promises to write to them. He flies over the desert and crosses the floodplains and the East Alligator River to his new home in Arnhem Land in the Australian outback, where he will live for a year while his parents work in a hospital there. Ernie writes to each friend about a different season — Kudjewk, Bangekerreng, Yekke, Wurrkeng, Kurrung, or Kurnumeleng — explaining what that time of year brings and revealing the exciting things that he and his new friends are doing. Back home, his six old friends share what they have learned and try some of the activities of the Australian outback.

When Ernie leaves the city and goes to live in the Aboriginal reserve of Arnhem Land, he sends letters to his old classmates describing the activities of his new friends.

Alison Lester is the author and illustrator of numerous books for children. She lives and works in Australia.