Naked Bunyip Dancing: The Story of Anna, Billy the Punk, J-man and Everyone Else

by Steven Herrick

Mr Carey the Hairy Billy the punk genius J-man the rapper Sophie the poet Ahmet the soccer star Jason the good kisser Anna the yoga master Peter the boy with the talking bottom Emily the ballerina Alex the artistMichael the salesmanWhat a crazy class! And what a funny, unpredictable year - the year of Naked Bunyip Dancing - when the kids in Class 6C find out who they are, what they're good at, and how to put on a fantastic show.

Genres: Poetry, Juvenile, Novel In Verse, Young Adult, Fiction

Paperback

First published August 1, 2008

Reviews

[Erin Sterling · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel in verse written by an award-winning Australian poet is a funny, sweet book about a year in the life of a sixth-grade classroom with a new hippie teacher who has long hair and "a T-shirt with the slogan Meat is Murder on the front and McDonald's = McJunk on the back." Told from different students' point of view as they prepare for a class performance. Naked bunyip dancing refers to a nonsense suggestion by the class clown as what the class should do together. The book gently and humorously deals with different worries of tween students—from a boy worrying about dancing ballet (even for his girlfriend's sake!) to the joys and fears of first love to not wanting to write poetry because there's nothing to say. Along the lines of other verse novels such as Love That Dog, the book does a good job at making poetry accessible for young readers. Named a Notable Book in the Younger Readers Category by the Children's Book Council of Australia. Grades 3-8.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

light verse novel with points of view of many kids in 6th year classroom with new teacher, leading up to class concert at end of year. good but not great. author's other verse YA novels were much better.

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this. There are funny moments, touching moments, even a few "awww" moments. There are some Aussieisms that might need explaining, but I think kids will get past that easily. The illustrations have a nice Shel Silverstein like feel to them.
And the title is just PERFECT!

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book by Steven Herrick that I've really liked. He succeeded in creating a quirky bunch of students and their equally odd teacher whose troubles and relationships keep you reading until the end. I'd like to be in Mr. Carey's class!

[Tressa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the illustrations and the poetry in Naked Bunyip Dancing. I liked how the poems showed how the class and individual students developed as the year progressed.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever had to choose between a concert or a play?
This realistic fiction book is the best book I've read so far I really like it because its funny and it grabs your attention.**SPOILER ALERT** at the end Emily and Jason end up doing a dance for the concert and Mr.Carey had to shave his hair off. I really like this book its funny and I hope they make another book like this one. This is actually a book that I really like, once you pick up the book and start reading it you cant stop because it sinks you in.

Emily wanted to do a play Romeo and Juliet but everybody voted for the concert so they ended up making up things to do in the concert and Emily did a dance with Jason. the setting of this book is at school and on a stage. the type of conflict is person vs. Group because everybody doesn't know what there going to do in the concert. Emily is a kind of stuck-up girl and always wants it her way. Jason is a trouble maker and he does what he wants when he wants. Billy is the class clown he makes everything funny. Even if it is not funny he will make it funny. The J-man is a rapper. he likes Eminem. Sophia is a smart girl and always pays attention and gets good grades. Alex is a creative person he likes drawing and he ends up making a painting for the backdrop of the concert stage.

I like how Billy is really funny and is nice because if your having a bad day Billy will make you laugh and you will forget all about it. I was surprised when everybody picked the concert instead of the play because you already know what your going play and its easy. My favorite part was when the class was doing yoga and Billy farted. I thought that was super funny I laughed out loud when I read that part. I cant relate to Mr.Carey because I'm relaxed and I'm not worried about nothing.

I also like when Emily said Jason had to wear tights because guys don't wear tights. I wish they would make a part2 to this book it was really good. I was surprised when Emily and Jason broke up they seem like a really cute couple. I liked the way the author had Billy be the funny one because the name Billy means funny and outgoing so the name really went with the character. I noticed how the author had to make the characters choose if they wanted to do a play or a concert because decisions cause problems.

I thought this book was AMAZING. It really caught my attention and I was really interested in the book. I like how the author made each characters personality different and how there personality's go with there name. I would rate this book a 10 because I really liked this book its my favorite and if there was a part2 I would check that book out right away. I would recommend this book to teens like me or older because its looks like a lot but its really not and it catches you attention. If you like reading this is a book for you, get ready to not wanting to stop reading.

[Erin Reilly-Sanders · Rating 2 out of 5]

This seemed at first to be a fun collection of poems on an Australian class of students and it was. What I did not really expect was some of the confusion created by changing view points. For me, it was difficult to keep track of which student was which, perhaps beside the poetry they write is not very good at exposing memorable traits. I was also very surprised to find amidst the humor drawings and sometimes silly poetry really sad and touching glimpses of Alex's life, as he deals with his parents' divorce. Unfortunately, while the book presents a resolution, it feels rather "light" rather than getting deep into the character. In general, the book is a light, fun read that goes quickly. It does combine humour with more thoughtful moments in a free classroom taught by an innovative wacky teacher. Unfortunately, the end is very abrupt, making it difficult to understand why the author would end on such an incomplete-feeling note.

[Erin Forson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Naked Bunyip Dancing
By Steven Herrick
I was really attracted to this novel by Steven Herrick because it seemed silly; who wouldn't want to read a book with the title Naked Bunyip Dancing? Well, not me as it turns out. First of all, I read the book and still had to look up what a Bunyip was (a mythical creature of Aboriginal legend said to inhabit water and watercourses, an imposter, or phony, BTW), and I couldn't make sense of the random voices. You see...each chapter is told by a student in an Australian classroom. Usually I can get past the "other country slang" but this novel was thick with it. The teacher was a corny hippie cliché, the kids were just silly times like fourteen thousand, and I just couldn't groove on it. Sorry, this one gets a thumbs down rating. If you read it and like it, please explain it to me.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Steven Herrick nicely captures the quirky personalities of one grade-school class and one hippie teacher. I think I missed something by reading silently to myself -- this book would be best if read aloud to a group, or at least another individual, so you can slow down and appreciate the jokes and share them with somebody. The kids are delightful and the teacher is original. The drawings of the students are an added delight.

It's the basic Let's-Put-On-A-Show plot, which doesn't set my heart racing. There are so many characters that you can't meet any of them in depth, and the teacher, while charming, remains unexamined.

Pleasant but lacking any jolt, like decaffeinated tea.

[AnnaBnana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is written in free verse, which means it read really quickly. The point of view shifts between characters, which obviously weakens character development a bit, but I don't think the story itself was weakened for it. This book was FUNNY and I found myself feeling like it was really authentic when I looked back on my own middle school experience. Herrick is Australian, so there are some differences in terminology compared to American English, but lots of kids will find that charming.

[Judi Paradis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fifth grade kids at my school LOVE this book and I can see why. It follows a quirky group of kids through a sixth grade year in Australia with a hippie teacher who lets them be who they are. It is also written in verse, which kids seem to love as the story moves so quickly, and because you have to do a bit of inferential thinking to catch on, which I suspect makes the story more engaging. Great choice for early middle school years.

[Leila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naked Bunyip Dancing is a good book for children about the age of 12 because this book is based on a Gr.6 class. It's funny and inspirational for middle-aged kids because it shows us that we can just be ourselves and enjoy it. At times the characters in the story are having a bad time but in the end it turns out okay. In my opinion, the messege the book gives to readers is this: Enjoy life!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ended up really loving the second half of this book. The beginning is a bit slow because you're getting to know all of the characters but once you know them the poems are so much funnier and cuter and more endearing. I love the kids in this book. They totally reminded me of my sixth graders from this year even though, really, they were nothing alike!

[Ian Tymms · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely Middle School book. I enjoyed the poetry, humanity and humour. Great potential as a text to inspire and model for kids ways to write with meaning rather than to be focussed obsessively on form. Upper Primary/ Lower Middle School.

[Mary Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel told in free verse poems. Australian, but not overwhelmingly so. Definitely needs a different title.

[Shoshana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great, funny example of a verse novel. I think it may have a good influence on me.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh so funny. What a class.

[Deborah Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Silly,fun read.

[Garsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent offering of delicious poetry!

[Kiley Drummond · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was soo good! I couldn't stop reading!

[Emily Pieroni skrezec · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very fun read

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliantly written! I laughed all the way through. I wish I had had a teacher like Mr Carey.

[Karyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and pleasingly smooth to read.

[EmmaB · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good fun read- the Australian middle grade version of Bronx Masquerade.

[Traci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It's a funny and sometimes touching look at 6th grade.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nifty little collection of poetry.