Emo the Emu
On the wild grassy plains west of Old Humpty Doo,
Lived the moodiest, mopeyest, saddest emu.
Just why he was sad well he didn’t quite know,
But he was, so the other birds called him Emo.
Emo the Emu is gloomy about everything!
Could a journey around the States and Territories of Australia with Katie the Kangaroo help brighten his mood?
Published by Scholastic in November, 2015, this rhyming travel adventure is illustrated by the award winning Lucia Masciullo.
The idea for Emo
I thought of the idea for Emo when I was on tour with Alison Lester, almost as her warm-up guy, doing speaking jobs to big groups of school kids on the north coast of New South Wales. I always loved Alison’s Are We There Yet, as well as Mem Fox’s Possum Magic, and I thought we were overdue a funny, rhyming ballad of a book that visits every State of Australia.
Alison Lester at a multiple school event near Byron Bay
Emo the Emu Reviews
Daughter Polly, with her reading glasses on
“It doesn’t really matter where the exact origins of the term ‘emo’ originated, what matters is this spanking new picture book by Tony Wilson and Lucia Masciullo. Both creators have captured the essence of emo in this picture book adventure, Emo the Emu. Emo is one moody, despondent little emu dude so full of mope that he is unable to enjoy his inner emu and Old Humpty Doo where he resides with his extended flightless family. Wilson’s lilting rhyming verse personifies the creatures of our Aussie landscapes precisely while focusing on Emo’s utter gloom. Masciullo’s watercolour illustrations are ridiculously true to country and fun. Her rendition of lanky-fringed, angst-ridden Emo is hilariously spot-on (worthy of eliciting dozens of teenage eye-rolls). Thankfully, cool Kanga Katie lightens the mood and saves Emo from himself. This will make an awesome gift-with-a-difference for overseas family and friends or for those with a hankering to see more of our great land. A beaut exploration of friendship, emotions, travel, and the great Aussie outdoors. Put it on your list!
Dimity Powell, Boomerang Books Blog 8/12/15
