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Days of Warmth

Oct5
Days of Warmth

Days of Warmth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Days of Warmth

Gregg Dreise

Puffin, 2024

16oo., board book., RRP $A14.99

 9781761340567

On Monday, Little Goanna woke up feeling cold…

But Daddy was there to give warmth.

Combining  early learning concepts such as days of the week, Australian animals and family, this is another of the beautiful books for our youngest learners created by Kamilaroi author Gregg Dreise, particularly celebrating the special relationship between parent and child. No matter how the child is feeling, the parent is there to provide support either physically or emotionally, and always with a cuddle.  

Although the colours change slightly, the background itself remains the same underlining the universal and unending cycle of love and little readers will enjoy identifying those creatures that are familiar, learning new ones, and using their facial expressions to predict how each might be feeling – all of which help develop those early concepts of print and story that are the foundations of reading.  They might also draw on their own experiences to consider why each creature might be in the predicament it is, offering scope for them to recognise and articulate their own emotions. 

There is also scope to compare Dreise’s illustrative style with other story books that they are familiar with, not only offering scope to introduce the distinctive style of First Nations, but also encouraging them to look more closely at artwork in particular, and its role in carrying the story, again building those early reading behaviours.  

Something special to share with your own little ones, or gift to new parents to share with theirs. 

Nightlife

Sep30
Nightlife

Nightlife

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nightlife

Sandra Kendell

Windy Hollow, 2024

32pp., hbk., RRP $A29.99

9781922081117

“As daylight fades and twilight reaches, here creep and flutter hidden creatures. Nightlife!”

For many young children, once night falls across their part of the planet, and it is time for them to shut their eyes, they don’t realise that for many of Australia’s creatures, it is time to open theirs, and a whole new world comes to life. 

But in this beautiful book with its intricate and accurate illustrations  and lyrical text combined with brief bursts of information , readers are taken on a journey across this country to discover the incredible diversity of creatures that make the night time their time to shine. thrive and survive.  The night doesn’t just belong to the bats and owls – there are mammals,. birds, reptiles, amphibians, arachnids, insects, molluscs, worms and aquatic animals living in habitats as  varied as their species from the deserts and shrublands of the Red Centre to the cool alpine regions of the Snowy Mountains to the rainforests of tropics, and all stops in between.  

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

For them the darkness of night is their haven and as well as learning a little about some of them so  that young readers become aware of their existence and the threats they face, thus being more likely to protect them, there are also new words to learn like nocturnal, diurnal and crepiscular. Each double page spread focuses on one particular habitat –  – the author says her biggest challenge in its creation was choosing which to feature – and just a few of the creatures that call it home; while the last two have a powerful message…

Nightlife in danger from cat, fox and spark – explaining the impact of introduced creatures, deliberate habitat clearing, and bushfires through dramatic artwork; and then the reminder that there are nocturnal creatures even in the urban environment that can be seen by taking a torch outside, so this is a phenomenon that city kids can appreciate too.  

In her bio on her website, Sandra describes herself as “an artist and author based in Darwin, Australia. She works with oils, watercolour, mixed media and words [drawing]. inspiration from the local environment and ecology revealing some of its more elusive inhabitants and portraying their unique personalities in images and stories embellished with a dose of whimsy.” and that is certainly apparent in this book.  She has a number of other books, all published by Windy Hollow and each bringing a lesser-known native creature to life for young readers, especially those of her native Northern Territory, with Saltie Mumma being nominated for a number of popular children’s literature awards. .  

Cockatoo

Sep25
Cockatoo

Cockatoo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cockatoo

Kaye Baillie

Max Hamilton

Windy Hollow, 2024

32pp., hbk., RRP $A29.99

9781922081100

In an ancient tree, in a high-up hollow, in a woodchip nest – a chick rests…

Covered in tufts of yellow fluff, the tiny yellow-tailed black cockatoo is entirely dependent on its parents for its safety and survival,  and they are very attentive bringing food , feeding it and protecting it from predators, But there comes a time when the little bird, now six months old and with its full plumage, must learn to fend for itself and the first lesson it has to learn is how to fly.  Because the hollow is deep, its first attempts are within its confines, but as Father sits at the opening coaxing it, the first few attempts are failures.  However, it is summer and the hollow is hot and ants and flies are invading it, so the young bird must persevere if it is to feed itself for its mother will no longer do so.

Inspired by her observations of these magnificent birds that are often seen around her home in Surf Beach, Victoria, Kaye Baillie has created a compelling story of the first few months of this bird’s life while Max Hamilton’s real-life illustrations add an extra layer of beauty to the poetic text.  But while this may seem like a book for younger readers because of the large and simple font, it can also be a springboard to finding out more about these creatures, known to scientists as Calyptorhynchus funereus while First Nations Peoples have their own names and stories for it.

Because yellow-tailed black cockatoos. just one of five indigenous black cockatoo species, are quite common in south-eastern Australia from Eyre Peninsula, South Australia to south and central eastern Queensland. although their habitat is declining, they will be familiar to many readers, and, in fact, their appearance is often seen as the harbinger of rain. Although this has been disputed as just being “coincidence”, certainly our experience is that rain follows their appearance, and lately, that appearance has been as rare as the rain itself. 

But as well as learning more about this species, the final spread also opens up new possibilities because having left the hollow, it is now vacant for other species, so who might find it an appealing home? Perhaps it is time to take this story further and explore books like Life in a Hollow and start to build an awareness of and appreciation for animal homes and the impact humans can have on them.

A stunning book about another of Australia’s unique creatures that can help our youngest learn about who shares their world while also inspiring older readers to develop their understanding of the interdependence of the natural environment.

Purinina

Sep10
Purinina

Purinina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purinina

Christina Booth

CSIRO Publishing, 2024

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781486317264

“At the bottom of the world, on the edge of an island, through a deep valley lined with pine trees that point to the sky, deep in the darkest corner of a warm , dry cave…” So begins the story and the life of one of Australia’s most iconic creatures – Purinina, the Tasmanian Devil.

Nurtured by her mother as she grows from being a jelly-bean sized baby attached to a nipple in her mother’ pouch, to being a mother herself, young readers can follow this new, revamped version of the 2007 classic that captivated so many.  Life is not easy for Purinina ( the official indigenous name for the species) particularly as her mother dies before she and her brothers are independent, and there are strange things to learn as she grows up such as the nature of the “tree that walks, with a light for an eye” who lifts her dead mother and carries her away.

As iconic and integral to the story of Tasmania as the Tasmanian Tiger, the misnamed Devil sits in an elite group of creatures unique to this continent, sadly on the IUCN Redlist  of endangered species because as well as the usual threats of loss of habitat and other human impacts, it is plagued by Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) and so this beautifully told story with its informative back matter is an important addition to the small but growing collection that raises awareness of this species and its vulnerability. Teamed with titles like Tasmanian Devil by Claire Saxby from the Nature Storybooks series, and Devils in Danger, a novel by Samantha Wheeler, it could form the basis of any investigation into some of our not-so-prominent fauna as well as demonstrating how humans are now actively seeking to undo the harm that has been inflicted on our wildlife over time, which, in itself, can offer students hope that the planet is not doomed as they are consistently told.  Teachers’ notes are available to assist a deeper study.

When this was first released in 2007, it became a CBCA Notable and given the increase in awareness and activity in environmental preservation,  it has the potential to do so again.

Helping Little Star

Sep2
Helping Little Star

Helping Little Star

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helping Little Star

Blaze Kwaymullina & Sally Morgan

Sally Morgan

Walker Books, 2024

32pp., pbk., RRP $A16.99

9781760658700

Moon warned Little Star not to go near the edge of the Night Sky but Little Star didn’t listen.  Down he fell, right into a creek!  Now how is he going to get back into the sky again?  Luckily, Python, Dingo and Kangaroo are there to help but neither can do it on their own.

This is a wonderful story for our youngest readers who are probably already aware of what can happen if you don’t listen to the wiser, more experienced grown-ups around them as they begin to push the boundaries to explore the wider world around them.  But it is also one of working together to solve a problem as Mother Kangaroo comes up with a solution that involves the help of Python and Dingo. 

Well-known Aboriginal writer and  illustrator Sally Morgan, a Palyku woman from the eastern Pilbara region of Western Australia, has teamed up with her son to create this story, and indeed, it is the vibrant illustrations in her iconic style that bring it to life,  deserving its reprint after 11 years since its first publication.  Littlies will enjoy this, perhaps even going outside to see it they can spot Little Star in the night sky, while parents can use it as a reminder if their little one goes too close to the edge. 

 

 

Wedge-tailed Eagle

Aug20
Wedge-tailed Eagle

Wedge-tailed Eagle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wedge-tailed Eagle

Claire Saxby

Christina Booth

Walker Books, 2024

32pp., hbk., RRP $A26.99

9781760655686

Look up.

Way up into the clear blue.

Those two tiny specks are two wedge-tailed eagles.

Watch them soar…

And no matter how often you see them riding the thermals, mock fighting, or diving down on some unsuspecting prey, there is always a sense of awe and wonder as these masters of the skies do what is normal for them but extraordinary for the land-locked watcher. 

In this latest addition to the Nature Storybook series,  Claire Saxby once again brings her magical way with words to explore the family life of a pair of wedge-tail eagles as they mate, nest and raise their chicks.  Accompanied by stunning, lifelike illustrations by Christina Booth (whose own book Purinina: A Devils Tale is due to be re-released) as well as informative back matter and detailed  teachers’ notes,  the reader is taken high above the land of the territory of the eagles and into their nest, deep, strong and safe as they prepare for this annual event.  

For me, the sight of eagles soaring is not uncommon because of where I live, but even more fortunately, Pete Graham, the hero of this rescue story, is a close friend who lives across the valley and is a well-known wildlife carer.  Many the time I’ve visited him and his wife, a fellow teacher librarian, and sat chatting while feeding an orphan wombat!  

Wedge-tailed eagles back in flight a soaring triumph for wildlife rehabilitation carer

This is an outstanding narrative non fiction series for young readers, combining a personalised story of the focus creature masterfully combined with factual information that not only allows the reader to feel connected to the subject but also sparks interest to find out more, look for it in the wild and share their new awareness of any dangers and threats it faces.  

And while my review copies usually end up at a local school or in the hands of special children, I know just where this one is going.  After all, there are five special grandchildren who should know just what their grandfather has done!!!!  

And here they are – on Father’s Day, 2024.  Sometimes we can give just the right book to just the right person at just the right time!

Quokka Finds a Friend

Aug12
Quokka Finds a Friend

Quokka Finds a Friend

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quokka Finds a Friend

Katie Stewart

Fremantle Press, 2024

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

 9781760994204

On a small island off the coast of southern Western Australia, Quokka spies a lone baby fur seal on a rock.  Being a friendly sort, Quokka asks Seal to be his friend, and starts off by trying to make Seal smile.  But no matter what Quokka does, he cannot make that happen.  He tries so hard that he accidentally falls into a rock pool and Seal has to rescue him.  When Seal offers to teach Quokka to swim, Quokka declines.  Can the two be friends even though they are so different?

It’s hard to imagine two more different creatures than the land-loving quokka and the sea-loving seal, so for the two of them to actually find something in common that inspires friendship seems an impossible task.  Yet, the final pages have them frolicking on the beach together.  So what is the secret?   This is a tender story about being able to be friends despite liking different things – something those just venturing beyond the family boundaries need to learn and accept – and finding joy in each other’s company anyway because despite Seal not wanting to smile and Quokka not wanting to swim. they find something in common.  

It is also an opportunity to introduce young readers to another Australian native animal , one that is the only one of its kind, is listed as vulnerable and one that is not the normal koala, kangaroo, echidna, wombat or platypus that they are likely to be familiar with.  The lifelike illustrations, particularly the expressions on both Quokka’s and Seal’s faces  set against a stunning backdrop are a stunning addition to a story with a serious message set in a humorous situation.  

Teaching notes which explore both the emotional and the scientific aspects of the book will help parents and teachers ensure that young readers get the most from the story, especially  the concept of making and building friendships with those who are different.  

Yanga Mother

Jul19
Yanga Mother

Yanga Mother

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yanga Mother

Cheryl Leavy

Christopher Bassi

UQP, 2024

24pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9780702268311

For younger readers, this is a beautifully illustrated story of the power of the bond between a mother grey kangaroo and her joey, told in both English and Kooma, the traditional lands in the Murray-Darling Basin region.

Wandaguli Yanga. There is always Mother.

But for those a little older, it is about the bonds between mother and child anywhere, and, in this particular case, as the notes explain, it “honours the strength and dignity of the women of Western Queensland, mardi matriarchs, and all First Nations mothers.” In particular it is the story of the author’s grandmother who was one of the many children of the Stolen Generation of the 1930s, and how before she was taken her mother told her that if they were separated, she need only look at the clouds in the sky to know that her mother was watching over her.

The grey kangaroo, and its need to stay connected to its mob, symbolises  both the connection between mother and young and animal and Country and teachers’ notes  explain and explore these concepts further, including links to sites with even further information.

But even without the indigenous aspect, young children can draw parallels between the way the mother kangaroo looks after and teaches her joey in a similar way to their mother looking after them, making it an ideal way to celebrate those bonds and connections between families.

For a more in-depth look at this story and its origins,  read Margot Lindgren’s blog post

Marringa Lullaby

Jun20
Marringa Lullaby

Marringa Lullaby

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marringa Lullaby

Emily Wurramara  & Sylvia Wurramarrba Tkac

Dylan Mooney

ABC Books, 2024

20pp., board book., RRP $A19.99

9780733343551

Sea breeze,

stars rising high …

Night-time is here, it’s time to go to sleep.

Duwedirra (white cockatoo) flies home to her babies as night falls, and it is time for them and other creatures of the land and sea to go to sleep. 

In the Anindilyakwa language of the Gadigal people,  Marringa means sleeping and this is another of the lullabies specially commissioned and funded by the ABC to help children transition to bedtime. Like Tjitji Lullaby  it is one of a collection that are available to become part of the bedtime routine as it introduces our youngest to the sounds of the local languages of the continent. Available in both video and now print format, its gentle rhythm and striking illustrations celebrate the landscape, its inhabitants and the language in the most positive way.

The Buffalemu

May7
The Buffalemu

The Buffalemu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Buffalemu

Paul de Guingand

Nandina Vines

Little Steps, 2023

3pp., pbk., RRP $A16.95

9781922833761

“Out East of Oodnadatta, where the elder animals meet, 

On past the towns, beyond the downs, and endless fields of wheat…'”

the band of old animal mates (Chewy the one-eyed red ‘roo, Smokey the wombat, Johnno the crow, Roosta the three-legged dingo, Sad-Eyes the ancient goanna) have gathered  together because they heard that their mate Aggie the emu is feeling upset and unhappy, and so like good mates do, they resolve to do what they can to help her.

‘We’ll go sort it out, with a chinwag, a yarn, have a chat. We’ll head up the creek, hear out her deep thinking, and figure out where her head’s at.’

For three days and nights, they head out to find her  – “They’d arrive when they got there, no sooner, no later; that’s how things should be in the bush” – and discover that Aggie is having an identity crisis.  To her, she doesn’t seem like a real bird with her long, thin wobbly legs and she feels she would be much better if she were strong with four legs, like a buffalo.  ‘I’d be Buffalemu!’, she says.

But no matter what her friends say, she is not comforted and begins a long walk of her own – one that takes her to the edge of a town and there she discovers that she not only fits in just as she is, but has a special place in the scheme of things.

Accompanied by appealing illustrations that really portray the sense of place of this story, this is one that young readers will enjoy as they not only identify the Australian fauna that they already know, but also begin to understand that no matter what we look like, our age or our impediments, who we are as we are is enough.  Many stories are written in rhyme, often contrived, that adds little to the story but the rhythm of this one carries the story along at pace and the choice of language is familiar but used so well. Common phrases like ‘barking up the wrong gum tree’ and ‘flown the coop” are embedded seamlessly but then you have stunners like this…

“Now Sad-Eyes , the ancient goanna, sat high on a pile of stones.

So old, they day, that the dreamtime could be seen written deep in her bones”.

Surely, for those who have never seen the weathered, wrinkled skin of this creature for themselves, there is an instant image of patience and wisdom, knowledge and understanding. What a model to use for aspiring young writers looking to develop their vocabulary! 

Stories about Australia’s unique wildlife abound, and the concept of being yourself is a common trope for this age group to explore, but the combination of the two in this one is a winner.