Jacqui Taub first came up with the idea for her Wacky Aussie stories over 25 years ago, when she told them to her own children. Now, she has created a six-book set for a new generation. Complete with audio CDs of her reading the stories, as well as a Waussie theme song, these child-tested books will delight children in preschool and kindergarten. Meet three of the Waussies.
Hiccup Waussie
Hiccup Waussie's problem comes in "Hiccup Waussie Loses His Hiccups" [Waussie Productions, Ltd., 2010]. He is famous for having a lot of hiccups, but on this day they are particularly bad. Boomerang Waussie and Beachball Waussie try to take him jogging. Ant tries to have him blow them out by blowing up balloons.
When a balloon that he is blowing bursts, Hiccup Waussie is frightened into losing his hiccups. He has a moment of clarity. Then, as he is laughing, they quickly return, and he is back to where he started!
Pineapple Waussie
Pineapple Waussie is featured in "Pineapple Waussie's Tickly Problem" {Waussie Productions, Ltd., 2010]
He is covered in many prickles, that are so appealing, everyone keeps touching them. But as they tug on his prickles, it tickles him! When getting tickled, he laughs so much that he cries pineapple tears, and now runs the risk of being dehydrated.
When Pineapple Waussie starts hiding to prevent people from tickling him, the other Waussies offer their assistance. Burger Waussie offers ketchup. Boomerang Waussie takes him to see the barber. The barber fixes him up so that he has cool, new sharp prickles. These new prickles no longer tickle. They hurt the offender! Which is amusing to Pineapple Waussie, who begins to laugh, and starts to run out of pineapple tears again.
Burger Waussie
Burger Waussie's dilemma comes about in "Burger Waussie's Lost Bun" [Waussie Productions, Ltd., 2010]. Somehow, when taking a rest, his bun has disappeared! Now he is cold! Hot Dog Waussie offers to share part of his bun, and Ant props him up, to help him on his quest to find his bun.
He searches on top of a garbage can, but finds nothing. His friends offer him a piece of lettuce, a piece of whole-meal bread, a banana skin, but all he really wants is his own bun. Finally after searching everywhere, they find it sitting on the back of a tortoise, and Burger Waussie is happy again.
These stories sound crazy and weird, and that is because they are. But when children listen to them with the audio CDs, narrated by Jacqui Taub, and accompanied by the Waussie theme song, the children are engrossed and happy. Follow up the Waussie stories by discussing how the friends helped each other, and how children can also help each other. Also, check out other Waussie fun on the Waussie Productions website.
There are three other Waussie books available. Read about them here.
Andrea Coventry - Andrea Coventry is a Montessori child, now Montessori educator, with 25 years' experience with children, publishing online since 2007.
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