A Book For Kids

C. J. Dennis

First Published: 1921

Cover illustration from the 1958 Edition

Dust-jacket Synopsis

C. J. Dennis was famous as a writer for adults long before he began to write for children. But Dennis did know one very important thing about children - he knew how to make them laugh - and his Book For Kids, with favourite verses like "The Triantiwontigongolope", "The Ant Explorer", "The Circus", "The Band", "Our Cow" and "The Swagman", has entertained thousands of kids "over four and under four-and-eighty", as Dennis' dedication puts it, since it was first published in 1921. It has now sold well over 100,000 copies.

"BOOK FOR KIDS is now avaiable again, being published by ETT Imprint in 2026 with Foreword by John Derum, to commemoreate the 150th Anniversary of C J Dennis. The vitality and merriment of these poems are as fresh today as they were when Dennis had such fun creating his book so many years ago, and it is certain that for many years to come "good children over four and under four-and-eighty" will continue to enjoy the work of this clever, vigorous writer, and to accept the invitation to "think of things, and laugh" with him."

Notes:
It is possible that this book might have started out as "A Book of Illustrated Nonsense Verse", which is mentioned by Dennis in a letter to James Tyrrell dated 2nd June 1915.

Contents

• The Band
• Our Street
• The Sailor
• Our Cow
• The Swagman
• The Tram-man
• The Porter
• The Looking Glass
• The Triantiwontigongolope
• The Circus
• The Long Road Home
• The Music of Your Voice
• Woolloomooloo
• Old Farmer Jack
• The Pieman
• Cuppacumalonga
• Polly Dibbs
• The Ant Explorer
• The Famine
• The Feast
• The Barber
• The Dawn Dance
• The Spotted Heifers
• The Teacher
• The Song of the Sulky Stockman
• I Wonder
• The Traveller
• A Change of Air
• Hist!
• The Drovers
• Old Black Jacko
• Going to School
• The Postman
• Lullaby
• The Axeman
• Riding Song
• Tea Talk
• Upon the Road to Rockabout
• Bird Song (Crow)
• Bird Song (Kookaburra)
• Growing Up
• The Baker
• Bessie and the Bunyip
• The Unsociable Wallaby
• The Little Red House
• You and I
• The Boy who Rode into the Sunset
• Good Enough
• I Wonder Whether...
• I Wonder What...
• Bird Song
• I Wonder Why...
• The Publisher
• Good Night
• A Very Charming Gentleman...