Overview
A humorous look at the way one quirky teacher brings out the best in each of his students. Steven Herrick delves into the murky waters of a middle-school classroom, complete with a nerdy vegetarian teacher, Mr. Carey. What a crazy class! And what a funny, unpredictable year—the year of Naked Bunyip Dancing—when the students find out who they are, what they're good at, and how to put on a fantastic show. The cast of characters includes Mr. Carey the Hairy, Billy the punk genius, J-man the rapper, Sophie the poet, Ahmet the soccer star, Anna the yoga master, Peter the boy with the talking bottom, Emily the ballerina, and others, each with a special talent. Mr. Carey introduces strange, new activities—from belly dancing to poetry jams—and the class responds with a passion for learning. The night of the class concert will undoubtedly be one of the best nights of their lives.
Mr. Carey has long hair and a beard.
He wears flared trousers and beads and a T-shirt with the slogan Meat Is Murder on the front and McDonald’s = McJunk on the back.
Today is his first day.
...This is going to be one very interesting year! —FROM THE BOOK
Editorials
School Library Journal
Gr 4-6- Herrick follows one year in an Australian classroom with a nerdy, hippie, caring, and unconventional teacher. Told in multiple voices, including those of J-man the rapper, Jason the good kisser, Peter the boy with the talking bottom, and Emily the ballerina, the novel captures the humor and unpredictability of 11- and 12-year-olds. Mr. Carey fosters a sense of community in which all of his students are encouraged to find out who they are and what they're good at. The children suggest cocurricular activities (one kid jokingly offers naked bunyip dancing-but for bunyips only). Readers will need to look up "bunyip" to understand the humor and innocence of the title. The book culminates in the show that the class puts on for families and friends. The terse free verse, in short clear lines, is easily accessible. Funny, with some touches of poignancy, especially in one child's feelings about her parents' separation, this is a light, breezy glance at a sixth-grade classroom with a nurturing teacher. Educators will enjoy reading about the success of Mr. Carey's approach of valuing each student and letting the classmates have a voice in the direction their learning takes. References to pop stars give the book a contemporary feel, while some Australian terms may need deciphering. The childlike, black-and-white illustrations are reminiscent of the drawings of Shel Silverstein and complement the narrative.-Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME