Geronimo Stilton Book 29: Down and Out Down Under

ISBN-10: 0439841208
ISBN-13: 978-0439841207

Summary:
G'day, mate! I was searching for ideas for my new book, and my friend Petunia Pretty Paws knew just where to find them -- in Australia. Holey cheese, it sounded like a fabumouse adventure! But between surfing with sharks, being chased by poisonous snakes, and getting lost in the outback, I was beginning to wonder if this trip down under was really a good idea. Kangaroos and koalas and crocs -- oh, my! Would I ever see New Mouse City again?

Review:
My Rating: A+

I will preface this review with a disclosure: I am an Australian.
Phew! Now that you know that I can carry on reviewing this book just like any other Geronimo Stilton book.
Well not quite.

See I loved this book. And its really hard for me to remain detached, to separate the critical part of me with the part that just wants to give Geronimo a big hug. I find it hard to be objective about the book because it is about Geronimo ‘s trip to Australia and while that would be very cool in and of itself, the amazing thing about this book is the reverence with which Geronimo treats our culture, history and heritage.

The feel of Down And Out Down Under is similar to The Valley Of The Giant Skeletons. In that book I learnt more about the rich culture of Mongolia than I had learnt in the last 35 years. And this form a chapter book about a mouse reporter. Geronimo really is an amazing fellow and his books are as informative as they are entertaining.

Geronimo_Stilton_Factfile_2 Anyway, back to the story. Petunia Pretty Paws and her brother, Wolfgang, are heading to Australia to make a documentary film about the outback bush country and they want Geronimo to come along to make a report on their findings. That’s Petunia’s story anyway but I think she just wants Geronimo along because she is sweet on him.

Once they arrive in Australia Geronimo has a brief surfing experience at Bondi beach (the waves really don’t get that big at Bondi but I suppose if you look at them from a mouses’ perspective...) and then they head out to Uluru, a sacred rock in the centre of the country.

It’s here where Geronimo’s inquisitive nature and sense of honour really shine.
Having taken the time to read about Australian culture on the plane trip over from mouse Island, he knows that native aborigines don’t like people climbing Uluru.

So when asked by a local if he is going to make the trip up to the summit like a busload of tourists who have just arrived, Geronimo replies,
“No Sir. We will not go on top of Uluru. We respect your wishes.”
Petunia also adds that they won’t take any photographs, another

How cool is that!
The authors could have left this interaction out altogether, but the fact that they put it in shows a great deal of respect for and recognition of the difference in cultures around the world. Awesome!

Main Characters:
Geronimo Stilton: Hero and Narrator
Petunia Pretty Paws: Awww shucks! Geronimo’s secret crush!
Wolfgang Paws: Petunia’s brawny brother
Wangana and Wani: A local Aboriginal couple that share their knowledge with Geronimo
Grandma Paws: Petunia and Wolfgang’s grandmother

Where To Buy The Book
A great way to purchase Geronimo Stilton books is on the internet, and ebay is one of the best resources around for finding a great price. Click on the latest live auctions for Geronimo Stilton down And Out Down Under below.
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