
Koala Koala
Koala Koala
John Williamson
Jonathan Bentley
Puffin, 2025
24pp., hbk., RRP $A19.99
9781761344244
Ask any little person (or international visitor) to name an iconic Australian creature and it’s highly likely they will say “koala”. Yet there are fears that this favourite will be extinct in NSW by 2050, the greatest threat being loss of habitat because of urban development, agriculture, mining and the expansion of existing infrastructure. Already, those in Queensland, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory have been classified as an endangered species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) since February, 2022.
So this picture book version of John Williamson’s 1990 song of the same name, is a provocative reminder that even though we have recognised the predicament of these favourites for decades, there is still much to be done.
With the original lyrics slightly modified and enriched by poignant, evocative illustrations by Jonathan Bentley , little ones are introduced to needs of koalas and the key dangers koalas face – deforestation, traffic, bushfires and dogs – helping them to understand that if they want to be able to show their children this treasured marsupial, the time to act is now. While they might not have the power to stop urban sprawl, they can be aware of the work of Koala Conservation Australia (of which, Williamson is a special ambassador) and perhaps hold a fundraiser to support their work in building a new breeding facility, education the public generally, or even visiting the centre.
Even just learning about the koala’s habitats and habits can be a start, and such a study was my go-to intro to developing information literacy skills with kindergarten. Use the book itself as well as lots of different pictures of koalas so there is at least one between two, and ask pairs, “What can we learn about koalas just by looking at these pictures?”. Record the responses, and then classify what has been discovered into three columns… What do we know for sure? What do we need to check? What more do we want/need to find out? Not only does that give a structure to the class investigation but it also gives them the foundation for their own personal investigations into other native species.
On the other hand, more mature readers could use it as a starting point to investigate how songs and music have been used over time to build awareness of human rights, environmental and other issues to reach a wider audience, particularly the anti-war protest movement of the 1960s, although there have been many before and since.
An essential addition to any collection to support the environment and sustainability curriculum.

A peek inside…