Young Bunyip lived with Old Bunyip in the dankest part of the creek.
It was cold and not much fun.
‘Why can’t we live on the sunny side of the creek?’ asked Young Bunyip? “Because we’re bunyips, fathead,’ said Old Bunyip, ‘and bunyips don’t!’
Poor Young Bunyip. He is lonely and bored and just wants a little fun. But whenever he suggests anything fun, Old Bunyip repeats his refrain: ‘Bunyips don’t!’
Young Bunyip grows sadder and sadder until he meets some children who show him that old Bunyip doesn’t know everything – and that, perhaps, bunyips do.
Bunyips Don’t! is a fun picture book combining the writing genius of the talented Sally Odgers with the superb illustrative talent of Kim Gamble. Odgers has a knack of creating stories which are very Australian, full of fun, yet able to provide food for thought.The fun of Bunyips Don’t is enriched by the gentle messages about following your instincts and believing in yourself.
Gamble’s watercolour illustrations are a delight. The juxtaposition of the darkness of Young Bunyip’s loneliness with the brightness of company is clever and Young Bunyip’s facial expressions and cute cuddly body are endearing.
Bunyip’s Don’t was first published in 1996. It is little surpise that Scholastic have chosen to rerelease it.
Bunyips Don’t, by Sally Odgers, illustrated by Kim Gamble
This edition Scholastic, 2005