Old MacDonald had a farm illus. by Matt Shanks

Scholastic Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781742993706.
(Age: 2-5) This Australian take on the classic song features all the suspects you would expect: kangaroo, koala, wombat, cockatoo, platypus and emu. Simple illustrations inject some humour as the native animals cause chaos throughout the farm, much to the chagrin of the farm animals. The roo jumps through the chooks and sends them into a tizz, the platypus have taken over the duck pond, wombats dig holes all over the farm and the emu chases Old McDonald and pecks him on the bum. By the end of the story the poor old fella is tired out and falls fast asleep.
This is a simple, yet effective re-imagining that benefits from not having been played around with too much. The illustrations are sparse, yet humorous, bright and cheerful. Themes: Songs, Australian Animals.
Nicole Nelson