The History of The Hoppers

 By B Parker
Illustrated by N Parker

A well-known children's book from 1912.

It's a pretty cute book in verse about a family of kangaroos that operates a general store.

 The verse is perfect.  No problems with meter, and the vocabulary is varied.  I love books with varied vocabulary, especially if some of it is out of date or even just a bit advanced.  It means that the book is enjoyable for me, and that my kids are learning new words all the time.

My daughter likes to listen to the poems.  They're simple enough for her to understand.  The last two lines at the bottom are always about their pet dingo and are the only lone rhyming pair.  It's a really nice form.

Each page of verse is accompanied by a large glossy coloured picture.  The colours are dull, but my daughter doesn't seem to mind.  She's actually more interested in the characters.  (The children are very naughty, which is engaging.)


This is a classic for a reason, but I would say that it's really only appropriate for kids who have a long attention span.  Probably 4 or 5 years old minimum.