Alexander’s Outing

By Pamela Allen

Reviewed by Mia Macrossan

Since her first publication in 1980, New Zealander Pamela Allen’s picture books have enchanted generations of children around the world, and have garnered a glittering array of awards and commendations including six Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards, two NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, an International Board on Books for Young People Diploma for Illustration, the Margaret Mahy Medal, New Zealand’s most prestigious award for children’s literature, and most recently The Gaylene Gordon Award for a Much Loved Book from the Children’s Literature Foundation of New Zealand. To celebrate 30 years in print Alexander’s Outing is now available as a board book.

The little duck Alexander and his siblings take a walk with their mother in Sydney. He ignores his mother’s warnings to take care and to stay close and falls in a deep narrow hole. How will he get out? Much quacking ensues. Luckily there are plenty of people around, all with various ideas and stratagems for rescue. The text is alive with repetition, onomatopoeia and internal rhymes: Now, dipping and tipping, dipping and tipping, skipping and dripping, quacking and flapping, dripping and skipping … as with much joyful flapping and quacking Alexander is reunited with his family.

This joyful little book is a powerful celebration of family and community brimful of humour and kindness, all of which goes a long way to explaining its enduring appeal. The sturdy board book format means it will have a long life at home or in the library. This proven classic is perfect for sharing and enjoying in groups or one on one.

Picture Puffin 2025

Pamela Allen