Little Else’s circus acts are a hit, but Ma Calico withholds payment. With the horses tired of pulling Ma and the performers urging Little Else to act, she goes looking for bushranger Harry Blast.
More about this book
Little Else has joined Ma Calico's circus and she's a big hit! But will her hard work pay off with mean Ma Calico in charge?Little Else is a trick rider and a horse whisperer, and sometime bushranger. She's gutsy and bold and ready for adventure in a funny, entertaining three book series for girls and boys aged 5 and up.When Little Else joins Ma Calico's Bush Circus, she becomes La Petite Elsie and does leaps and lofty tumbles with Joe, The Flying Giuseppe, and the crowds love them. But mean Ma Calico won't pay them a penny. The circus horses are sick of hauling Ma around the country, and the other performers want Little Else to stand up to her. So Little Else decides to track down the wild bushranger Harry Blast. Would he be a match for Ma?Julie Hunt's adventure stories are funny and full of larger-than-life characters. No other heroine has quite as much courage, or luck, as daring Little Else. Fortune favours the bold in the Little Else series!
FairnessThe available evidence does not establish the book's treatment of this theme. See Confidence & Basis for the evidence gap.Work and paymentThe available evidence does not establish the book's treatment of this theme. See Confidence & Basis for the evidence gap.Standing up to authorityThe available evidence does not establish the book's treatment of this theme. See Confidence & Basis for the evidence gap.
Consider
Social conflictViolence and harmViolence
Personalised Fit
Sign in to see how this book fits your child and family preferences.
fairnesswork and paymentstanding up to authoritycircusadventurelarger-than-life characters
Fiction
◎
Themes in Context
Standing up to unfair treatment
Little Else performs successfully at Ma Calico’s circus but is not paid. The other performers want her to stand up to Ma.Provisional readingProvisional: the reviewed evidence does not establish how the book treats this theme. The evidence gap is listed under Confidence & Basis.Provisional: the reviewed evidence does not establish how the book treats this theme. The evidence gap is listed under Confidence & Basis.
Talk about: What would count as a fair outcome for Little Else and the other performers?
Comic adventure structure
The plot moves from Little Else’s circus performances and the payment dispute to her decision to seek out bushranger Harry Blast.Exploratory / explanatoryExploratory / explanatory: the book explains or explores the subject without an established evaluative position.Exploratory / explanatory: the book explains or explores the subject without an established evaluative position.
How the book presents it: The story is presented as a funny adventure, using a shift from circus spectacle to a bold quest to propel the action.
Talk about: How does the change from performing in the circus to seeking Harry Blast affect the pace and feel of the story?
✦
Why It May Be Worth Reading
The premise pairs a lively circus adventure with a clear unfairness: Little Else performs successfully but is not paid. Its comic, larger-than-life presentation may suit readers who enjoy bold characters and high-spirited escapades.
!
What Deserves Attention
The plot includes unfair treatment of Little Else by Ma, along with tired circus horses and a search for a bushranger. These elements may prompt a check-in if unfairness or animal fatigue is a concern for your child.
↔
A Conversation Worth Having
What do you think Little Else should do when she realises her work is not being paid, and what might the other performers be hoping for when they urge her to stand up to Ma?
◇
Reading Approach
You could read together and pause at the shift from circus performance to Little Else’s search for Harry Blast. Ask what she hopes to achieve, then revisit that expectation as the story unfolds.
Confidence & Basis
Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.
What remains unconfirmed
Standing up to unfair treatment: The ending and the consequences of Little Else’s decision are unclear.
Comic adventure structure: The supplied plot outline does not establish how the journey or confrontation unfolds.
Suitabook