Josephine Wants to Dance

From the award-winning duo of Diary of a Wombat comes another hilarious tale of a bush animal you'll never forget.

Return to the sleepy town of Shaggy Gully, the home of the wombat from 'Diary of a Wombat' and Pete the Sheep and his shearer friends. In the bush nearby lives Josephine, a kangaroo - who loves to dance. Her little brother, Joey, tells her that kangaroos don't dance, they hop - but Josephine continues to point her toes and leap through the air.

When a ballet troupe comes to town and both the lead ballerina and understudy are injured, Josephine's talents are called upon to help save the day. Can she do it and, more importantly, does it matter that she's a kangaroo?

A very funny picture book that looks at the importance of believing in yourself and realising your dreams.

Ages 4- 9

Joesphine is based on a real wallaby, who insisted on helping herself to Jackie's roses and dancing away with a flower between her teeth... looking remarkably like the book's front cover.

Jackie French's writing career spans sixteen years, 47 wombats, 130 books, translations into twenty two languages, about fifty awards and shortlistings in Australia and overseas, assorted 'Burke's Backyard' segments, radio shows, newspaper and magazine columns, theories of pest and weed ecology and 27 shredded back doormats. The doormats are victims of the wombats who require constant appeasement in the form of carrots, rolled oats and wombat nuts.

Jackie is one of the few writers to win both literary and children's choice awards. 'Hitler's Daughter' won the 2000 CBC book of the year for younger readers, the UK Wow! award and has been listed as the 'blue ribbon' book in the USA. 'Diary of a Wombat' has won a swag of awards in Australia and the US. Other awards include Aurealis (sci fi) Award for 'Cafe on Callisto' and ACT Book of the Year for 'In the Blood'. 'Pete the Sheep' was shortlisted as a notable in the Picture Book of the Year category of the 2005 Children's Book Council Awards and shortlisted for the 2005 KOALAs.

Bruce Whatley is possibly Australia's best loved illustrator. His books include the extraordinary successful Little 'White Dods Can't Jump' and 'Detective Donut' and 'Wild Goose Chase', which was short listed in the 2000 KOALA awards top 50. This is the third bok Bruce has worked on with Jackie French; the first being 'Diary of a Wombat' followed by 'Pete the Sheep'.

Josephine Wants to Dance
Harper Collins
Author: Jackie French
illustrator: Bruce Whatley
ISBN: 0207200750
RRP: $24.99


Review: For the true dancer in us all. You may not look like a dancer, but if it's in your heart nothing can stop you.