Mulga Bill's Bicycle by PB Paterson illustrated by Kilmeny and Deborah Niland

Last week I shared some Australian books that teachers or Teacher-Librarian could display or read to groups for Australia Day. Our schools here in Australia are always on their summer holidays when this public holiday is celebrated but you could still share the books I mentioned during the first few weeks of the term especially when new classes have not yet been formed. My previous school waited through the first week before forming their classes and this was always a difficult period for the students, keen to meet their new teacher, and the staff who would much prefer to meet their new class having already said goodbye to their previous students at the end of last year.

I realised when I posted about some terrific picture books with an Australian flavour that I had not talked about Mulga Bill's Bicycle here on this blog. I have read this version to many students in Grade 4 - it is good to share poetry by one of our very famous bush poets but as a bonus the story of this poem is so funny. The first steps though need to be an unpackaging of some of the words and phrases. I have added bold to the text of the poem below.

Here are some teaching ideas. I would share the poem, then the book and then you could perhaps use this video (it is not perfect but it is the best one I found).

Banjo Paterson wrote the poem in 1896, a time when cycling was a relatively new and popular activity. It tells the story of Mulga Bill who thinks he will have no problem riding his velocipede, you know, one of those bicycles that has a huge wheel in the front and a teensy weensy one at the back. After a hair-raising ride he crash lands in Dead Man’s Creek and decides that the bicycle “ it’s safe at rest in Dead Man’s Creek – we’ll leave it lying still; A horse’s back is good enough henceforth for Mulga Bill’. Storylinks

Publisher blurb: Mulga Bill's Bicycle was written by Banjo Paterson in 1896. It was written at a time when cycling was a relatively new and popular social activity. Cycles were ridden everywhere, including in the outback by shearers and other workers who needed to travel cheaply. Mulga Bill's Bicycle tells the hilarious story of Mulga Bill, who thinks he's much better at cycling than he turns out to be. A resounding crash sends him back to his original mode of transport - his trusty horse. Kilmeny and Deborah Niland's delightful illustrations catch the mood and humour of Paterson's verse with great spirit, and this book has become an enduring classic.

'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that caught the cycling craze;

He turned away the good old horse that served him many days;

He dressed himself in cycling clothes, resplendent to be seen;

He hurried off to town and bought a shining new machine;

And as he wheeled it through the door, with air of lordly pride,

The grinning shop assistant said, "Excuse me, can you ride?"

"See here, young man," said Mulga Bill, "from Walgett to the sea,

From Conroy's Gap to Castlereagh, there's none can ride like me.

I'm good all round at everything, as everybody knows,

Although I'm not the one to talk; I hate a man that blows.

But riding is my special gift, my chiefest, sole delight;

Just ask a wild duck can it swim, a wildcat can it fight.

There's nothing clothed in hair or hide, or built of flesh or steel,

There's nothing walks or jumps, or runs, on axle, hoof, or wheel,

But what I'll sit, while hide will hold and girths and straps are tight:

I'll ride this here two-wheeled concern right straight away at sight."

'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that sought his own abode,

That perched above the Dead Man's Creek, beside the mountain road.

He turned the cycle down the hill and mounted for the fray,

But ere he'd gone a dozen yards it bolted clean away.

It left the track, and through the trees, just like a silver streak,

It whistled down the awful slope towards the Dead Man's Creek.

It shaved a stump by half an inch, it dodged a big white-box:

The very wallaroos in fright went scrambling up the rocks,

The wombats hiding in their caves dug deeper underground,

As Mulga Bill, as white as chalk, sat tight to every bound.

It struck a stone and gave a spring that cleared a fallen tree,

It raced beside a precipice as close as close could be;

And then as Mulga Bill let out one last despairing shriek

It made a leap of twenty feet into the Dead Man's Creek.

'Twas Mulga Bill from Eaglehawk, that slowly swam ashore:

He said, "I've had some narrer shaves and lively rides before;

I've rode a wild bull round a yard to win a five-pound bet,

But this was the most awful ride that I've encountered yet.

I'll give that two-wheeled outlaw best; It's shaken all my nerve

To feel it whistle through the air and plunge and buck and swerve.

It's safe at rest in Dead Man's Creek, we'll leave it lying still;

A horse's back is good enough henceforth for Mulga Bill."

Image source Bike Ability UK

January 1st and the Possibility of 365 Poems

On my shelf I have four poetry anthologies which provide you with a poem for each day of the year. If you know someone beginning their career as a teacher this year one of these would be a fabulous gift or if you work in a school library why not use these as a way to share poems with the teachers in your school or share one each day in your library.

 I decided to look at 1st January and here is a poem that appealed to me from A Whale of a Time:

The First Book by Rita Dove

Open it.

Go ahead, it won’t bite.

Well … maybe a little.

More a nip, like. A tingle.

It’s pleasurable, really.

You see, it keeps on opening.

You may fall in.

Sure, it’s hard to get started;

remember learning to use

knife and fork? Dig in:

you’ll never reach bottom.

It’s not like it’s the end of the world–

just the world as you think

you know it.

I am the seed that grew the tree

And Everything will be glad to see you

Meet Michael Rosen

Michael Rosen Day poster

You can access the full poster as a pdf here

I titled this post Meet Michael Rosen because, well I didn't speak to him, but I did see him in person twice last month so I guess I did meet Michael Rosen. The first time was at the 2024 IBBY Congress in Trieste and then again at the Festival of Words in Jersey (UK). At the Festival of Words Michael spoke to an adult audience about his newest book - Getting Better: Life lessons on going under, getting over it, and getting through it. This morning he popped up on my Facebook page announcing Michael Rosen Day. Read more and sign up here. 

The day celebrates the 50th anniversary of Michael’s first ever book, and the 35th anniversary of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt. I did a little digging, and his first book was the poetry book Mind your own Business (1974).

We're going on a Bear Hunt

As you can see from the cover, Mind your own Business was illustrated by Quentin Blake. So I did a little hunting because I was interested to find a list other books Quentin Blake illustrated for Michael Rosen:

• Mind Your Own Business
• Wouldn't You Like to Know
• The Bakerloo Flea
• You Can't Catch Me 
• Quick, Let's Get out of Here!
• Don't Put Mustard in the Custard
• Smelly Jelly Smelly Fish
• Under the Bed
• Hard-boiled Legs
• Spollyollydiddlytiddlyitis
• Tea in the sugar bowl
• Michael Rosen’s Sad Book
• You're Thinking About Tomatoes
• Mustard, Custard, Grumble Belly and Gravy
• Bananas in my Ears
• On the Move: Poems about Migration

Michael Rosen has a very rich website. I suggest you set aside some time to explore all his resources including videos, his book list and events (mainly in the UK).  And my friend from Kinderbookswitheverything alerted me to this video where Micheal Rosen talks passionately about reading and schools and most importantly libraries. 

If you are reading this post and you work in a school, head to your library NOW I am certain they will have many books by Michael Rosen. You could create a fabulous day with your students exploring his poems, picture books, and junior novels. And try to find this joke book:

At the IBBY Congress Michael Rosen based his keynote address "I, Too" by Langston Hughes.

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

Tomorrow,

I’ll be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody’ll dare

Say to me,

“Eat in the kitchen,”

Then.

Besides,

They’ll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.

His presentation was a brilliant lesson on how to elicit meaningful discussions with a group of students and how students need time to think about a poem like this. He worries about the UK teaching focus on retrieval of facts and not interpretation. His presentation will appear in full in the IBBY Journal Bookbird. 

And then he had the whole audience of 700 delegates reciting this poem from Michael Rosen's Big Book of Bad Things. In this video you can see Michael talking about and performing his poem:

Hand on the bridge

feel the rhythm of the train.

Hand on the window

feel the rhythm of the rain.

Hand on your throat

feel the rhythm of your talk.

Hand on your leg

feel the rhythm of your walk.

Hand in the sea

feel the rhythm of the tide.

Hand on your heart

feel the rhythm inside.

Hand on the rhythm

feel the rhythm of the rhyme.

Hand on your life

feel the rhythm of time.

hand on your life

feel the rhythm of time

hand on your life

feel the rhythm of time.

Here is one is his newer books:

This is a perfect book to share with a group of older students

Michael’s reading manifesto:

1. Reading books helps children make the most of what school and the world offer them.

2. Books give children language, thoughts, ideas and feelings.

3. Books show them places and times and cultures very near and dear to them.

4. Books show them places and times and cultures they may not have come across before.

5. Books help children walk in other people’s shoes, seeing things from someone else’s point of view.

6. Books help children see that they are not alone.

7. We have to do what we can to put books into children’s hands.

8. We have to do what we can to find space and time for children to talk about books.

9. We have to celebrate children’s books.

10. Children’s books are for everyone because we are all children at some time or another.

On this blog I have previously talked about these books. Pop the name Michael Rosen into my search bar or search for a specific title:

Here is an abridged list of awards given to Michael Rosen:

• Oxfordshire Book Award 2009 for ‘Dear Mother Goose’
• Children’s Laureate 2007-2009
• English Association ‘Exceptional’ Award for Sad Book
• Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor ‘Commended’ Award for Sad Book
• National Literacy WOW Award 2005 Alphabet Poem
• An International Reading Association Teachers’ Choices Winner
1999 (USA) Classic Poetry
• Eleanor Farjeon Award for distinguished services to children’s literature
1997
• National Association of Parenting Pub Best Book Award 1993 (USA) Poetry For The Very Young
• Japanese Outstanding Picture Book from Abroad
1991 We’re Going On A Bear Hunt
• School Library Journal Best Book of the Year 1990 (USA) We’re Going On A Bear Hunt
• Smarties Best Children’s Book of the Year Award 1990 We’re Going On A Bear Hunt
• Signal Poetry Award 1982 You Can’t Catch Me

My own favourite Michael Rosen book that I previously shared with hundreds of children in my school library is Hairy Tales and Nursery Crimes. You can hear Michael reading one of the stories from this book here. And Little Bo Peep;  Jack and the Tin Stalk, Old Mother Hubbard, Hush a bye Gravy, Little Bo Peep.

Right Way Down and other poems compiled by Rebecca M Newman and Sally Murphy illustrated by Briony Stewart

Over thirty-five Australian poets, many from Western Australia, have poems in this sweet little anthology which would be a perfect addition to your own shelves and should be an essential addition to every Primary school library. 

The poems are organised under five headings - Come on in; Creative Thinkers; Creature Features; The View from here; and Heading Home.

The title comes from a poem by Sally Murphy (one of the compilers of this book the other is Rebecca Newman). Several of the poems have been previously published (these details are included at the back of the book), and some are from our wonderful NSW School Magazine. There are also brief biographical details about each poet.

Right Way Down by Sally Murphy 
(in the book the words are upside down and you need to rotate the book!)

This is a poem
best read
while you balance
on hand or on head.

It isn't

upside down.

It isn't

wrong way round.

It's simply set

out this way so 

you can maybe

have a go

at reading

while you stand

on your head

or on your hands.

I read this book straight after I purchased it while I enjoyed a cup of tea in the bookshop. I read the whole book and I kept changing my mind about my favourite poem - there are so many great ones selected for this anthology. Some are funny, some are emotional, some are lyrical and some are sure to make you think!

There are so many ways you could share the poems from this book with your class in Grade 2 right up to Grade 6. You could pair the poem above for example with the double page of poems about shoelaces in the book A Whale of a Time page 182.

Here are a couple of other poems from Right Way down:

Cutting Reply by Sharron Hough

You're just a piece of paper
How can you scare me?
Without a pen or pencil
You're blank for all to see
Not a line or picture
Not a scratch or scrawl
Plain and dull, uninteresting
No character at all
Look how straight your edge is
You lie there, flat, inert
My fingers glide so easily
Ouch! That really hurt!

Puppy Love by Lisa van der Wielen

Pick me! Pick me! I really want a home.

I promise to follow you, wherever you roam.

I might bark at the postie or chew uour best socks

Or even dig holes or ruin my box ...

I might fetch my lead, and beg for a walk.

Whenever there's food: I'll watch like a hawk.

But please take me home, and hug me with pride,

I promise to love you and be by your side.

For I might be cheeky, and act like I'm royal,

But I'm playfulk, devoted, affectionate, loyal.

I'm cuddly, adoring, and awfully smart,

If you give me a home - I'll give you my heart.

Autumn Leaves by Sian Turner

Orange plumes take flight

Fluttering in the wind

Fragile gossamer wings that stretch to kiss the sky,

They leave your trunk bare.

Your flamboyant masquerade has slipped away.

Now you stand still

And exposed to the coming chill.

It will be a full season before you are clothed again

And your mask is mended.

But your leaves, blown away,

Are even now a gift - 

Leaf litter.

The reviewer from Lamont Books has listed his favourite poems and I am thrilled to see this book was included with their first standing order offering this year. See more pages inside Right Way Down here. The publisher have also written some general teaching notes. 

BUT I so wish the publisher of this book (Fremantle Press) had been braver and that this book had colour illustrations, a larger format and perhaps even be hardcover. Briony Stewart has added glorious illustrations to Right Way Down but they would really shine if they were in colour.  This IS a poetry anthology to cherish but I think it will be overlooked partly because the format is fairly plain and partly because bookshops do not really feature Poetry books. I had to hunt through two of our city bookstores to find my copy and this book was only published last month. In the 'olden days' Australian publishers were prepared to take risks as evidenced by the wonderful book Beetle Soup - later renamed And the Roo jumped over the Moon complied by Dr Robin Morrow illustrated by Stephen Michael King.

A Whale of a Time - a funny poem for every day of the year selected by Lou Peacock illustrated by Matt Hunt

An Attempt at Unrhymed Verse by Wendy Cope

People tell you all the time,

Poems do not have to rhyme.

It's often better if they don't

And I'm determined this one won't.

Oh dear.

Never mind, I'll start again.

Busy, busy with my pen...cil.

I can do it if I try--

Easy, peasy, pudding and gherkins.

Writing verse is so much fun,

Cheering as the summer weather,

Makes you feel alert and bright,

'Specially when you get it more or

less the way you want it.

See inside this book on the Nosy Crow webpage. There are 350 pages in this enormous poetry book and 366 poems. It is divided into twelve months with a poem for every day and includes an index of poets, an index of poems, and an index of first lines. 

From the introduction:

"In a poem the arrangements of words create lovely melodies through rhythm and rhyme or free verse. They might be slow, soft and soothing, like a lullaby, or quick-march to get your heart racing. And a really funny poem might give you the giggles."

 "Of course, humour is a very individual thing. What makes one person laugh might leave another cold. So, I've done my best to find poems to tickle all sorts of readers. There are slapstick silly poems and tongue-twisters to get tangled in and nonsense poems full of riddles."

There are lots of familiar names in this book: Allan Ahlberg; Maya Angelou; Hiliare Belloc; Charles Causley; Joseph Coelho; Julia Donaldson; TS Eliot; Max Fatchen (Australia); Vivian French; AF Harrold; Russell Hoban; Ted Hughes; Karla Kuskin; Edward Lear; Margaret Mahy; Roger McGough; Spike Milligan (Australia); Tony Mitton; Ogden Nash; Linda Sue Park; Jack Prelutsky; Michael Rosen; Christina Rossetti; Roger Stevens; Colin Thiele (Australia); Judith Viorst; and Jane Yolen. Plus, many many more. 

This Poem by Elma Mitchell

This poem is dangerous: it should not be left

Within the reach of children, or even of adults

Who might swallow it whole, with possibly

Undesirable side effects. If you come across

An unattended, unidentified poem

In a public place, do not attempt to tackle it

Yourself. Send it (preferably in a sealed container)

To the nearest centre of learning, where it will be rendered

Harmless by experts. Even the simplest poem

May destroy your immunity to human emotions.

All poems must carry a Government warning. Words

Can seriously affect your heart.

When you think about using the months of the year you will expect many seasonal poems in this book - Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter along with Easter, Halloween and Christmas. You could flip through every page in this book, or turn to today's date, or look up your birthday, or just randomly flip to any page. All of these are great ways to access this huge book.  And when you find your favourite page, you can mark it with the ribbon marker (I do love these).

Image Source: Matt Hunt

I have not yet read every poem but here are a few pages I enjoyed:

Page 100 April 11th and 12th

"This is just to say" by William Carlos Williams sits side by side with a rift on this famous poem by Matthew Sweeney:

I have eaten
the chicken

you had on the sideboard

defrosting

and which you were hoping

to roast

and serve with wine

to your friends

forgive me

I'm a cat

we have no manners

we're always like that

Page 298 August 1st - 4th 

A celebration of bananas

Page 226 September 5th 

I don't like Poetry by Joshua Seigal (extract)

I don't like similes

every time I try to think of one

my brain feels like a vast, empty desert,

my eyes feel like raisins floating in the ocean

my fingers feel like sweaty sausages.

...

I don't like alliteration.

We learnt about it in school

but it's seriously, stupendously silly;

definitely drastically difficult;

terribly, troublingly tricky.

Page 216 August 24th - 26th

Poems about taking a bath

Page 182 July 15th - 17th

Poems about shoelaces

Page 148 June 14th - 16th 

Poems about hippos

Page 134 May 22nd 

I'm absolutely full tonight by Kenn Nesbitt

I’m absolutely full tonight.

I couldn’t eat another bite.

I couldn’t eat a half a bean,

or even taste a tangerine.

I couldn’t lick a lettuce leaf

or bite the slightest bit of beef.

I couldn’t polish off a pea

or sip a single drop of tea

or nibble on a nanogram

of pickled ham or candied yam

or lamb or clam or jam or Spam.

Yes, that’s how full I truly am.

To even think of eating more

would leave me lying on the floor

and surely make my stomach hurt

unless, of course, you’ve got dessert.

Page 78 March 17th 

Today, I feel by Gervase Phinn

This might be one you could use for an assembly item:

Today, I Feel as:

Pleased as PUNCH,

Fit as a FIDDLE,

Keen as a KNIFE,

Hot as a GRIDDLE,

Bold as BRASS,

Bouncy as a BALL,

Keen as MUSTARD,

High as a WALL, 

Bright as a BUTTON,

Light as a FEATHER,

Fresh as a DAISY,

Fragrant as HEATHER,

Chirpy as a CRICKET, 

Sound as a BELL,

Sharp as a NEEDLE,

Deep as a WELL,

High as a KITE, 

Strong as a BULL,

Bubbly as BATH WATER, 

Warm as WOOL,

Clean as a new PIN,

Shiny as MONEY,

Quick as LIGHTNING,

Sweet as HONEY,

Cool as CUCUMBER,

Fast as a HARE, 

Right as RAIN, 

Brave as a BEAR, 

Lively as a MONKEY,

Busy as a BEE,

Good as GOLD, 

Free as the SEA.

I’M SO HAPPY- I’M JUST LOST FOR 

WORDS.

Page 316-7 December 15th - 17th

Poems about sneezing

Hunt’s cartoon illustrations, which feature a large and diverse cast of children in lively poses, add bright notes of energy and action to the spacious page layouts. Kirkus

I dream of finding a talented teacher or two or three and gifting them this book (A Whale of a Time) plus one of these to use every day in their classroom - what a glorious way to share funny, poignant, important, delightful, joyous, and wonderful poems every day with a group of students. Each of these books are expensive but they would also be a wonderful investment. I agree they are too large and heavy to loan to individual students in your school library, but each could be placed in a classroom (for the whole year!).

Matt Hunt illustrated this counting book which I adored:

How to Count to One

Lou Peacock is the author of Marvellous Margot (yes I do recognise this name!).

Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy illustrated by Polly Dunbar

I mentioned yesterday that my friend and I enjoyed shopping at a charity book fair yesterday. I am a huge fan of Margaret Mahy and so I was delighted to find this book in hardcover, with a dust jacket for only $1. Oh and it is in mint condition - I don't think any human hands have actually touched this book!

The text floats across the pages in waves and arcs, and Dunbar’s joyous watercolor-and–cut-paper illustrations are wonderfully expressive, a visual treat moving apace with the text. A frothy, effervescent gift. Kirkus Star review

Margaret Mahy is a master storyteller and she delights in using words. Here is the opening of Bubble Trouble:

"Little Mabel blew a bubble and it caused a lot of trouble, such a lot of bubble trouble in a bibble-bobble way ... "

The wayward bubble picks up the baby and he heads off into the sky for an adventure.

Margaret Mahy is not afraid to use invented words and unfamiliar words - such as cavil.

"In her garden, Chrysta Gribble had begun to cry and cavil at her lazy brother, Greville, reading novels in his bed."

Cavil: to make unreasonable complaints, especially about things that are not important

Here are some other delightful words: wafted, grovelled, shrilly, scrobble, gibbering, hovel, cavorting, flum-a-diddle, nefarious intentions, dumbfounded, and prattle.

So the baby in the bubble is followed by an assortment of people from the town over to the church where is seems certain his bubble will burst on the church steeple. These scenes reminded me of The Elephant and the Bad Baby. Then a rascal  named Abel picks up a pebble, places it in his slingshot and he bursts the bubble. Luckily he is caught in a patchwork quilt held by all the people who have been following his crazy bubble ride. 

"Oh, what calculated catchwork! Baby bounced into the patchwork, where his grizzles turned to giggles and to wriggles of delight. And the people stared dumbfounded as he bobbled and rebounded, till the baby boy was grounded and his mother held him tight."

Margaret Mahy is also a master of delicious names for her characters: Chrysta Gribble; Greville Gribble; Tybal; Mr Copple; and Mrs Threeble.

I adore the illustrations in this book by Polly Dunbar - they are light, joyous, exuberant, and filled with quirky people. 

The poem of Bubble Trouble first appeared in a poetry anthology by Margaret Mahy in 1991 with illustrations by Tony Ross. The picture book edition with illustrations by Polly Dunbar was published in 2008. 

I have so many favourite books by Margaret Mahy (type Mahy into my label search) picture books here are a few:

Poems Out Loud illustrated by Laurie Stansfield

 

Here is a book that needs to be in every school library because teachers and children are often looking for poems to read and perform and these are just perfect for your youngest students. As a bonus this book also comes with an audio CD and this book is a very reasonable price too. 

You may recognise a few of the famous poets - Joseph Coelho; Roger McGough; Ben Bailey Smith; and AF Harrold.  There are 29 poems in this book. Take a look at this performance of The Beetle by the poet - Nadine Wild-Palmer.  Here are couple that appeal to me:

Shoo, Fly, Shoo! (extract) by Brian Moses 

If a fly comes by and bothers you,

these are some of the things you can do.

You can trap it, or zap it, or give it a slap.

You can creep up behind it when it's taking a nap.

You can shout GET OUT and hope that it goes.

You can whack it with a bat when it lands on dad's nose.

This poem was originally published in this book:

Shhh ... by Roger Stevens

I know where Mum hides her chocolate biscuits

I'm not going to tell you because it's a secret

There were five in the packet but now there are four

I wonder if she'll notice if I just have one more?

This poem was originally published in this book:

The Great Smile Robbery by Roger McGough

Friday Old Favourite

This book is just one for fun. It contains wild characters and heaps of jokes (which made me laugh in 1982 and laugh all over again in 2021).

Publisher blurb: "The Stinkers - is there a gang more vile and horrible? No! That's why everybody loves to loathe them."

Emerson is a happy guy. He has his daily routines:

"He brushed his teeth over and under. Washed his face inside and out. Combed his hair through and through until there were no knots. Not any. Not a knot whatsoever on his whatnot. And of course, being the hero of this story, he did all of these things without being told."

The best thing in Emerson's house is his wardrobe of smiles - his smiledrobe. It contains warmhearted, cheeky, shy and sad smiles. Each morning Emerson selects a smile for the day.

Meanwhile we need to meet the horrid Stinkers. Their names are probably descriptive enough - Billy Bogie; King Pong; Sourpuss; Nick O'Teen and Mrs Wobblebottom.

So now the stage is set. The Stinkers decide to rob a bank. Everything goes wrong and Emerson is wrongly accused of the crime. While Emerson waits in jail those wretched Stinkers rob his house and steal all the smiles. Luckily Emerson is the hero of the story (as previously mentioned) and so honesty, truth and justice do win the day and those awful Stinkers get the punishments they deserve.

There are two stories in this series - the second is called Stinkers Ahoy.

This book is long out of print but if you can find a copy it is sure to give you and your young reader a laugh or two. I especially love the cartoon style illustrations by Tony Blundell.

Here is Roger McGough reading one of his poems.