What’s the book about?
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the bestselling and beloved story about Josephine the dancing kangaroo and the importance of believing in yourself.
Josephine loves to dance. The emus show her how to point her toes. The eagles teach her how to soar to the music of the wind. Then the ballet comes to the sleepy town of Shaggy Gully and Josephine learns that there’s another way to dance. This is how Josephine wants to dance, but will her dream ever come true?
From Jackie French and Bruce Whatley, the award-winning duo of the bestselling Diary of a Wombat, comes a story about the importance of believing in yourself.
Recommended for: Ages 3+
Three reasons to read it:
- This is a milestone anniversary edition of a genuine Australian classic. Twenty years on, Josephine’s story hasn’t lost an ounce of its charm, and this hardcover edition is the perfect way to introduce a new generation of readers to a book that’s already been embraced by families across Australia. Jackie French and Bruce Whatley, the team behind the bestselling Diary of a Wombat, bring the same warmth and wit that made their earlier collaboration so beloved.
- It’s a beautiful, gentle lesson in believing in yourself, without ever feeling preachy. Josephine doesn’t just dream of dancing — she learns from everyone around her, taking pointers from the emus and eagles before discovering there’s a whole new way to dance when the ballet comes to Shaggy Gully. It’s the kind of story that quietly builds a child’s confidence to follow their own path, even when it looks different to what everyone expects.
- It’s a keepsake-quality picture book built to be read again and again. At 32 pages and perfectly pitched for ages 3 and up, this hardcover edition is sturdy, giftable, and destined to become a shelf favourite. Whether it’s a first introduction for a new reader or a nostalgic pick-up for a parent who grew up with Josephine, it’s a lovely one to own.
Buy a copy of Josephine Wants to Dance (20th Anniversary Edition) here.
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