Whispering In the Wind

Whispering in the Wind is a reissue, under the Text Classics banner, of a book by award-winning Australian author, Alan Marshall. Young Peter sets out from the hut he inhabits with Crooked Mick in the thick Australian bush, determined to save a princess. But first he has to find her. Mick has already taught him to ride, so he has his white pony, Moonlight, to take him, and Mick also provides him with some supplies for the trip, including a newly fashioned whip, christened Thunderbolt.

The South Wind gives him some directions, and a pouch with magical contents, and before long he is joined by a kangaroo, Greyfur, whose pouch comes in very handy. The pouch seems to have an unlimited capacity, producing food and furniture when desired, a myriad of useful items as the situation requires (a wharfie, a crane, a posthole digger, to name a few), and even, to prove a point, an elephant.

Peter and Moonlight and Greyfur face a number of obstacles and dangers to learn where, and then reach, the castle holding said princess, is. After which, of course, Peter must face three challenges to win her hand. The journey involves encounters with several creatures with malicious intent as well as a few more benign ones. The Pale Witch, the Jarrah Giant, the Bunyip, the greedy King and the Willy Willy are all changed by making Peter's acquaintance.

Marshall gives the reader a fantastic tale full of quirky characters and crazy happenings. It has elements of Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz, but some of the dialogue is definitely tongue-in-cheek and will appeal to older readers. Marshall is an interesting character: known best for his fictionalised memoir, I Can Jump Puddles, he was a dedicated anti-fascist activist, so he was in ASIO's files, yet he was awarded an OBE and an AOM. The illustrations by Jack Newnham are excellent. An Aussie Classic for young and old alike. This unbiased review is from an unsolicited copy provided by Text Publishing.

This book is really good and is about a boy called peter who meets a kangeroo who can produce lots of objects from her pouch.He meets a horrible witch,giant,dragon that shoots water from his nose and some grass that is horrible and mean to the children who want to pass.he gets a magical leaf to give to people who feel lonley or sad. I highley rcommend this book!