Battledores were a later development of the horn book, in that pictures to illustrate the letters were added. They were usually printed on thin card, which could be folded two or three times to make a small booklet. Some battledores had small rhymes for each letter. The Aunt's gift features domestic and wild animals, is printed on paper rather than card and folds three times tp produce four pages. It should be noted that there are only 24 letters in this alphabet, 'J' and 'V' being missing (possibly a printer's convenience which allowed the sheet to fold neatly into four 'pages', and perhaps because 'J' and 'V' were not used in the Roman alphabet) . The long 's' is also used, typically seen in books published before 1801 (see 'M' mouse, and 'S' squirrel). Some animals featured have since become extinct, and some spellings have changed: Kanguroo and Nyl Ghau.

This battledore is among the earliest works for children to illustrate the kangaroo.

Carpenter, Humphrey. The Oxford companion to children's literature, Oxford [Oxfordshire]; New York: Oxford University Press, 1984

Folmsbee, Beulah. A little history of the horn-book, Boston: Horn Book, c1971 (1972 printing)

Tuer, Andrew W. History of the horn-book, London: Leadenhall Press, 1897

Whalley, Joyce Irene. Cobwebs to catch flies: illustrated books for the nursery and schoolroom, 1700-1900, London: Elek, 1974

State Library of South Australia: Treasures of the State Library. The Uncle's present

Blackwell history of education: Hornbooks. What is a hornbook?

State Library of South Australia: Mortlock Wing exhibitions. To be a child August 2004-