A Book for Kids

by C.J. Dennis

A Book for Kids By Clarence James Dennis I'd like to be a baker, and come when morning breaks, Calling out, "Beeay-ko!" (that's the sound he makes)--Riding in a rattle-cart that jogs and jolts and shakes, Selling all the sweetest things a baker ever bakes;Currant-buns and brandy-snaps, pastry all in flakes;But I wouldn't be a baker if . . . I couldn't eat the cakes.Would you?THE DAWN DANCEWhat do you think I saw to-day when I arose at dawn?Blue Wrens and Yellow-tails dancing on the lawn!Bobbing here, and bowing there, gossiping away, And how I wished that you were there to see the merry play!But you were snug abed, my boy, blankets to your chin, Nor dreamed of dancing birds without or sunbeams dancing in.Grey Thrush, he piped the tune for them. I peeped out through the glassBetween the window curtains, and I saw them on the grass--Merry little fairy folk, dancing up and down, Blue bonnet, yellow skirt, cloaks of grey and brown, Underneath the wattle-tree, silver in the dawn, Blue Wrens and Yellow-tails dancing on the lawn. CUPPACUMALONGA 'Rover, rover, cattle-drover, where go you to-day?'I go to Cuppacumalonga, fifty miles away;Over plains where Summer rains have sung a song of glee, Over hills where laughing rills go seeking for the sea, I go to Cuppacumalonga, to my brother Bill.Then come along, ah, come along!Ah, come to Cuppacumalonga!Come to Cuppacumalonga Hill!'Rover, rover, cattle-drover, how do you get there?'For twenty miles I amble on upon my pony mare, The walk awhile and talk awhile to country men I know, Then up to ride a mile beside a team that travels slow, And last to Cuppacumalonga, riding with a will.Then come along, ah, come along!Ah, come to Cuppacumalonga!Come to Cuppacumalonga Hill!'Rover, rover, cattle-drover, what do you do then?'I camp beneath a kurrajong with three good cattle-men;Then off away at break of day, with strong hands on the reins, To laugh and sing while mustering the cattle on the plains--For up to Cuppacumalonga life is jolly still.Then come along, ah, come along!Ah, come to Cuppacumalonga!Come to Cuppacumalonga Hill!'Rover, rover, cattle-drover, how may I go too?'I'll saddle up my creamy colt and he shall carry you--My creamy colt who will not bolt, who does not shy nor kick--We'll pack the load and take the road and travel very quick.And if the day brings work or play we'll meet it with a will.So Hi for Cuppacumalonga!Come Along, ah, come along!Ah, come to Cuppacumalonga Hill! We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching

Genres: Poetry, Childrens, Fiction

92 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1921

About the author

Clarence Michael James Stanislaus Dennis, better known as C. J. Dennis, (7 September 1876 – 22 June 1938) was an Australian poet known for his humorous poems, especially "The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke", published in the early 20th century. Though Dennis's work is less well known today, his 1916 publication of The Sentimental Bloke sold 65,000 copies in its first year, and by 1917 he was the most prosperous poet in Australian history.

Together with Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson, both of whom he collaborated with, he is often considered among Australia's three most famous poets.

When he died at the age of 61, the Prime Minister of Australia Joseph Lyons suggested he was destined to be remembered as the "Australian Robert Burns".

Reviews

[Ian Laird · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke
Awoke the folk with a stroke
Of dinkum Aussie pride
In our larrikin side

South Australian born and bred
Brought up by aunts instead
Of parents for a while
Young Clarence James acquired a style

Outback verse was his niche
A Book for Kids full of country speech
A gift from my dad to his son
When I was young and full of fun

CJ Dennis wrote rural stuff
Baker Barber not nearly enough
So Pieman Axeman Tram-man
The Song of the Sulky Stock Man

Stories too The Music of Your Voice
The Little Red House let us rejoice
But my favourite, yours too I hope
Is called The Triantiwontigongolope

Apologies to the memory of C. J. Dennis, author of The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke (1915), THE MOODS OF GINGER MICK (1916) and A Book for Kids (1921), my edition 1958, read by me now we are six.

[Jolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun poems and stories for kids

A nice collection of poems with a few longer stories thrown in. I particularly liked the long story about the house that was lonely when it's family went away on a trip.

[Estelle Rowsell · Rating 4 out of 5]

NO!!! 😈

i have a great way to make this book a bit better.
So you have to get it to be shorter ...
for the little ones (like a 5 year old) it will be interesting but
very hard for them.
I am not being unkind to you Estelle Rowsell 🔚

[Derelict Space Sheep · Rating 2 out of 5]

Supposedly unabridged, this audiobook in fact omits the stories, leaving only Dennis’s verse—short, rather dated bush ballads, their rhyme too simple for adults, the language too sophisticated for children. Colin Friels revisits his Play School days but fights a losing battle.

[Shawn Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute rhymes for bedtime. The best part is the rhythm! Very ear-catching and a good exercise for young readers to take a crack at. Favorite: Cuppacumalonga.

[stephanie sedillo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sorry stories

I really liked it. the story about the sunset is a must read it is real cute my favorite from this book.

[Grace · Rating 1 out of 5]

I HATED IT!!!!

I only put 1 store because I thought the characters were awful