Extrait du livre Charlie and the Australian adventure
Charlie and the Australian adventure by Maisie Fieschi and Annalisa Ferrari ABC Melody publishing
Charlie and the Australian adventure
It’s the school holidays. Charlie and Stella are in Sydney, a big city in Australia. They are visiting Stella’s cousin, Max. – G’day! says Max. – What does that mean? asks Charlie. – G’day is how people say “hello” in Australia, says Stella. G’day, Max! – Oh, says Charlie. G’day, Max! The sun is shining. – Put on these hats, says Max. You don’t want to get sunburnt. – Why is it so hot in Sydney, Max? asks Charlie. It’s snowing in London. – Australia has the opposite weather to Europe, explains Max. It’s very hot in December, January and February, but cold in June, July and August.
That afternoon, Max takes Charlie and Stella to Bondi Beach. – Wow, there are so many people here, says Stella. – Do you see my dad? asks Max. He has a red bike. – Yes, I see him! says Charlie. Charlie is too scared to go in the water. There are big waves. – Look at me, I’m surfing! says Stella. – That’s so cool! says Charlie. But watch out for… A huge wave knocks Stella off her surfboard. – Let’s sunbathe instead, says Stella.
The next morning, Max’s dad is taking all the children camping in the bush. Max’s friend Jerrawa joins them. – Jerrawa is such a cool name, says Charlie. – Thanks! It means “goanna” in my Aboriginal language. A goanna is a large lizard. Before leaving the house, Max’s dad checks they have packed everything they need in their bags. – Do you have your tent, Jerrawa? asks Max’s dad. – Yes, I do, says Jerrawa. It’s in the red bag. – Do you have sunscreen, Max? – Yes, I do, says Max. It’s in my pocket. They all get into the car.
After a long drive, they arrive at the campsite in the bush. Charlie is impressed. – The trees are so tall. They smell good. – They’re called eucalyptus trees, says Max. Jerrawa points at something in the trees. – Look! You can see koalas eating the leaves. They love eucalyptus. Max’s dad helps the children set up the tents. – Put some rocks on each corner. That stops the tents from blowing away in the wind. The rocks are heavy to carry. – This hard work makes me hungry, says Stella. – Okay, says Max’s dad, it’s time for lunch!
Max’s dad cooks lunch on the barbie. – Would you like a sausage? – Yes, please, says Max. I would like one. I love sausages! – Me too, says Charlie. – I would like a steak, says Stella. – Me too, says Jerrawa. Everyone is enjoying lunch. – Yum, this is delicious, says Stella. Suddenly, a brown bird with blue wings lands on Charlie’s plate. It takes Charlie’s sausage and flies away. – Come back! shouts Charlie. – Too late, laughs Jerrawa. That bird was a kookaburra. They love sausages, too! – Don’t worry, Charlie, says Max. There’s another sausage for you to eat.
