Lizzie Nonsense: A Story of Pioneer Days

by Jan Ormerod, Paul Omerod (Illustrator)

Pioneers in the Australian bush, like those on America’s western frontier, had isolated, difficult lives. In this story, based on the author’s own family history, Papa goes away to work, leaving Lizzie and Mama and baby alone in their little house. Lizzie’s playful pretending turns routine chores into games and adventures. Mama calls it “Lizzie nonsense,” but Mama herself has an imaginative, lighthearted side.

Stunning landscapes and graceful, affectionately drawn characters make Jan Ormerod’s remarkable paintings an evocative counterpart to this touching portrayal of family ties in pioneer days.

Genres: Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Australia, Childrens, Fiction, Family, Realistic Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2004

About the author

Jan Ormerod grew up in the small towns of Western Australia, with three older sisters, and as a child she drew constantly and compulsively. She went to art school and studied drawing, painting and sculpture. After completing her degree, Jan become an Associate of the Western Australian Institute of Technology and Design in Education, taught in secondary schools on enrichment programmes, and lectured in teacher’s college and art schools. Jan's first picture book, "Sunshine", won the Mother Goose Award in 1982 and was highly commended for the Kate Greenaway Medal. Her recent titles include "Ben Goes Swimming", "Emily Dances", "Who’s Who on Our Street?", " A Twist in the Tail" and "Ponko and the South Pole".
http://www.walkerbooks.com.au/authors...

Reviews

[Kathryn]

Lizzie and her mother, father and the baby live an isolated life in the Australian bush during pioneering days. But Lizzie's head is full of imagination and, thus, her world is full of wonder and excitement. Mother calls all her imaginings "nonsense"--sometimes fondly, sometimes with exasperation, but always with love.

I absolutely adored this book! The illustrations are marvelous and I love Lizzie's imagination (reminded me a bit of an Anne of Green Gables thing). Also, the bravery of the pioneers really comes through here--it's subtle, but still quite powerful. I cannot imagine what it would be like to be a young mother of two in the wilderness with no neighbors nearby (the scene about "going to church" really got me!) while her husband is out for weeks at a time making deliveries!!! Many of the picture books I've found about Australia about the animals, native traditions, or more modern life. I think children would be very interested in this story since it reads almost like a U.S. pioneering book, except for the dingos howling at night!

[Abigail]

Based upon the stories passed down in her family, Australian-born children's author and illustrator Jan Ormerod has crafted a beautiful picture-book examination of a child's life in the bush, during Australia's pioneer days. Living in an isolated house, fifty miles from the nearest settlement, Lizzie sees only her father and mother, and her baby sibling, from day to day, and when her father must haul his sandalwood into town, her small circle narrows even further. It is her imaginative play - what her mother calls nonsense - that passes the time, and makes life bearable...

A sensitive look at the importance of make-believe, in the lives of children, Lizzie Nonsense is also a poignant, heart-warming family story, set at a dramatic moment in Australian history. The narrative immediately sucked me in, and the illustrations, done in watercolor, greatly increased my enjoyment. The two interact beautifully together - I loved the way that Lizzie's mother is saved from seeming brusque, with her constant declarations of "nonsense," by the humor in the illustrations, which reveal her sympathy for her daughter - which is a hallmark of a great picture-book. A lovely tale, one I would recommend to any young reader looking for pioneer tales. It would make an excellent companion piece to similar stories about American and Canadian settlers.

[Lisa Vegan]

This is a lovely, lovely book about a child’s imagination. And it’s based on the childhoods of the grandmother and mother of the author-illustrator.

This is the story of Lizzie, living with her mother and baby sibling, and her sometimes absent father who has to travel for work, living in extreme isolation in the Australian bush (they even have to pretend to go to church each week as it’s too far to actually travel to it). Lizzie uses her imagination and make-believe to make life more enjoyable; to transform the drudgery and what could be boredom into exciting adventures and fun moments. Even the protestations that what Lizzie says are nonsense adds to the fun, I think for both mother and daughter.

It bothered me though that the baby was always referred to as baby, no name given. I can see why this was done deliberately and I do get it, but it still didn’t work for me.

The illustrations are wonderful! They did a fine job of telling the story and complementing it, and I love the artwork. I want to see more of this illustrator’s work!

This would be a fine book to introduce children to the facts of pioneer life, and is appropriate for children too young for the Little House books, for example.

4 ½ stars

[Dianna]

It's like Little House on the Prairie set in Australia, except the heroine has more imagination.

[Carrie Gelson]

The illustrations in this title are incredible. It is nostalgic. Lonely. Gives us a glimpse of the hardships of early pioneer life. Set, so very beautifully, in Australia.

[Linda]

Oh wow, this is one gorgeous book set in the Australian bush, based on the lives of the author’s mother and grandmother, a sweet story about a mother, a father, Lizzie and a baby. Lizzie’s always dreaming, thus her mother calls her Lizzie Nonsense. Alone for days while the father takes wood to sell in town, her mother does the regular chores and Lizzie helps, but does it with a large imagination. We see her playing in the woods, pretending to drive a buggy, she says the baby is “afloat in a boat on a big, wide sea” when he’s being bathed, and she pretends to be a bride when she picks flowers from the garden. Although it must have been lonely, the story would start a good conversation with young children about what to do when they feel lonely themselves. Having a good imagination like Lizzie Nonsense helps a lot.

[Claudia Naranjo]

What a beautiful story that will teach students how pioneers used to live.

Pioneers in the Australian bush, like those on America’s western frontier, had isolated, difficult lives. In this story, based on the author’s own family history, Papa goes away to work, leaving Lizzie and Mama and baby alone in their little house. Lizzie’s playful pretending turns routine chores into games and adventures. Mama calls it “Lizzie nonsense,” but Mama herself has an imaginative, lighthearted side.

Stunning landscapes and graceful, affectionately drawn characters make Jan Ormerod’s remarkable paintings an evocative counterpart to this touching portrayal of family ties in pioneer days.

[Cheryl]

Fourth or fifth time I've read this. I want to include it in the bin of books for a certain young family, but, even though it's on openlibrary.org, I find the idea of parting with my nice hardcover painful. It brings tears to my eyes every time I read it. The pictures are even more expressive than the text. (Not surprisingly; Ormerod is a respected and beloved illustrator.)

[Diane]

This is a children's book that I read because it sounded like my granddaughter Lily. It was a nice surprise to find that it is set in Australia - sort of a picture book of Ma and Pa and Laura in the outback. Lizzie has a wonderful imagination just like our Lily. Simple and gentle story.

[Gwen Grespan]

Goodreads #9
Summary:
This book is about a girl who lives in a little isolated house far from any church or neighbors. Her Papa has to leave for work for a very long time leaving Mama, Baby, and Lizzie at home alone. Lizzie has a wild imagination while she helps Mama with the chores that must be done while Papa is gone. When they carry water back from the creek for Baby’s bath, Lizzie tells Baby she is on a big boat. When they tend the garden, Lizzie pretends she is a bride. When snakes hide in the house and Mama has to scare them away, she tells her Mama she is the bravest Mama in the world. Whenever Lizzie does any of these things her Mama always tells her that she is nonsense. One day, Lizzie exclaims that she sees a dust cloud and that Papa must have returned, however Mama tells her that it must be nonsense. But it is not, Papa has returned from town and tells his family how much he has missed them and loves them. But they respond saying “nonsense.”

Themes:
The theme in this book is the importance of imagination. Many times children are told by their parents to stop messing around and being playful is looked down upon. However, this book embraces children’s imagination and encourages them to explore it.

Personal Response:
I can personally relate to this book because when I was little I would always play imaginary games with my little sister. We would put on shows and dances for my mom all dressed up in crazy costumes and she would always tell us how crazy we were. She encouraged us to play and be ourselves just as Lizzie’s mom encouraged her to do so. Another personal connection I have to this book is the excitement I had when my dad would come home from a long business trip. My mom and siblings would wait for him at the door with excitement just like Lizzie, Mama and Baby did.

Recommendation:
I would recommend reading this book to a child before they go to sleep. A babysitter could read this to a child who is worried about their parents not returning because in the story Lizzie’s father returns after working in town. The storyline and illustrations are very calming and the ending is very lighthearted. It also depicts what life was like during colonial times.

[Chelsea]

I LOVED this book! I thought it was a charming story both about the lives of pioneers in the Australian Bush, and of a child's imagination. I also love that this book represents a culture that is often ignored when discussing diversity in the American classroom. The illustrations are beautiful and their style is highly reflective of the imagination and Australian landscape that the book discusses and displays. They greatly help readers to experience the book, and engage the audience, drawing your eye throughout the text.

Essentially, Lizzie Nonsense follows the life of a young girl named Lizzie whose family are pioneers in the Australian Bush. When Lizzie’s father leaves home to go to work, Lizzie, her mother and her younger sibling are left behind to take care of the little house they live in. In her distaste for the many chores of everyday life, Lizzie uses her imagination to make such activities whimsical, exciting and fun, all of which Mama calls “Lizzie Nonsense.”

I think this book would make an excellent read aloud because of the unique and imaginative story and the colorful painted illustrations, and would be wonderful for completing character mapping activities. This text could also be used to discuss Australian culture, as it is based upon the real experiences of the author's family.

[Stacy Slater]

What a perfect companion piece to Little House on the Prairie this book is. Lizzie and her family are settlers in Australia's bush country during the same time period the Ingalls were moving west across the American Great Plains. Like Laura, Lizzie has a good-humored father, a hard-working mother, and a baby sister to look after. She also possesses a vivid imagination that allows her to believe the inevitable turnips for dinner are actually peaches and cream. Despite her concern for the practicalities of life, Lizzie's mother, like Caroline Ingalls, also longs for the finer things in life, and is occasionally indulged by her good-hearted husband.

Because it is a picture book, Lizzie Nonsense would make a good introductory read aloud before reading Little House on the Prairie to a second or third grade class. A close study of the illustrations in each would yield much information for comparisons between the flora,fauna, and family life of Australia and the Midwest.

[Amy Layton]

Told from the perspective of Australian homesteaders plenty of decades ago, Lizzie Nonsense fuels the imaginative, Romantic, idealized child with the utmost amount of love.  With a soft palette accenting the nature within they live, this book offers a nice portrayal of what life was like back then--with the chores and the imagination that Lizzie and her mother have.  Overall, it's a sweet book that may offer new insights about Australian life and culture or what it means to have some of your family missing from you.  Great for grades K-2.

Review cross-listed here!

[Thu Nguyen]

I read lots of picture books to my son but I only review ones that move me as an adult, and this is one of them. The story is about life in the Australian bush 100 years or so ago. Life was hard, isolated, sometimes dangerous. But Lizzie the little girl was always happy, full of imagination and love for her family. I adore such simple life.
The illustrations were very fitting. It's a good book to tell kids about the old days when everything was very different.

[Ann]

These paintings are lush and evocative, filled with emotions...not just the wonder of childhood, but the painting of the parents' reunion conveys incredible longing. There are few books I know of that portray Australian pioneer days, so the setting plus celebration of a child's imagination make this a special book.

[Danielle]

This almost feels like it was told long ago in pioneer days. In a good way. Nonsense here is really used as a way to discount Lizzie's imagination. But she doesn't lose it. It's what keeps her going and gives her hope. She must get it from her father. :)

[Susan]

There's heart and sparkle here, both in the text and the illustrations, so I'm giving it three stars. But...if the father was never there, why the heck did that poor woman have to live out therealone in the middle of nowhere!? The larger picture of this is insufferably oppressive to women.

[Sandra Stiles]

this is the pioneer story of a young girl in Australia. The father must leave one day and Lizzie, Mama & baby must carry on until he returns. Lizzie uses her imagination to help them pass the time.

[Theresa]

a little girl and her mother are left in the bush while her father sells his crop. very beautiful pictures, and great experience of the out back life

[Jennifer]

Beautiful story about a very different kind of life in the pioneer days Australian outback, yet timeless and relatable.

[Kristen]

A nice pioneer tale set in Australia, which added a fun, different element. I loved the illustrations, and I'm always a sucker for a book about imaginative play and the transformative power of it.

[Bec]

A sweet book about Lizzie and her family who live in a little outback shack in early Australia

[Jessica]

A cute whimsical imaginative story book. Also has bit of culture in it!! Super fun read for the kiddos

[Sarah]

A quaint story about a girl with a large imagination.

[Rosie]

Lizzie and her family live in Australia’s bush but her father has take the sandalwood into town which takes him many days on sand tracks with his horses.

Lizzie nonsense explores the fruitfulness of a child’s imagination whilst recognising that adults are unable to immerse themselves into the views of a child. Whenever Lizzie shares what she sees through the imaginative eyes of a child, her mother says ‘nonsense!’. A phrase which Lizzie herself eventually uses when her father returns and compares her to her mother.

This book would be good to read if exploring Australia as a topic as there’s references to life in Australia and Australia’s animals as well a beautiful water colour illustrations of indigenous animals such as snakes, dingoes, sulphur created cockatoos, kookaburras, kangaroos and possums which could be looked at for comparing representations of animals in art - such as aboriginal art.

[Rose Rosetree]

The uniquely Australian pioneer story is a marvel, both the spare (but selectively chosen text) and the gorgeously solid illustrations. A favorite sample of the engaging dialog:

"Tonight," says Lizzie, "we will eat peaches, and cream, and little sweet cakes."

"Such nonsense!" says her mama. "We are having turnips, as usual."

[Cameron Walker]

This book is written by an English author (London), and so has a bit of a different feel to it. It's about a girl whose mother thinks she's full of nonsense, but even so the mama has nonsense too. In the end, Papa comes home and Lizzie says Papa is full of nonsense too.

[April]

This book takes place in Australia, following a young girl with a fun imagination! I love the family dynamic between mother and daughter, it's very sweet and paints the culture in a laid-back, yet hard-working light. I also am a fan of the illustrations.

[Luella Lee]

Nice story. Australia is huge and it would be hard living in the middle of nowhere. No AC in those days either.

[Patty]

”Then Lizzie and Mama and baby are all alone in the little house in the bush.”

Another picture book that crossed my path. This one I checked out because my daughter’s name is Lizzie, spelled like this Lizzie’s name is spelled. I think my daughter would have enjoyed this when she was four years old or thereabouts. Unfortunately, it wasn’t published until she was 21. I may check it out again when my grandchildren are older.