Sami Bayly, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature, Hachette Australia, September 2021, 128 pp., RRP $32.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780734420046 Following the award-winning The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Ugly Animals and The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dangerous Animals, natural history illustrator and author Sami Bayly explores the most unlikely animal partnerships in The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Peculiar Pairs in Nature. Each double-page introduces readers to a peculiar pair, with a description of physical characteristics, conservation status, diet, location/habitat, and fun facts. It’s easy to become absorbed by the stories of how two different species connect. Bayly’s superb watercolour illustrations are classical…
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Julie Murphy (text) and Ben Clifford (illustrator), Tiny Possum and the Migrating Moths, CSIRO Publishing, November 2021, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781486314621 With a text by former zookeeper and zoologist Julie Murphy, and gorgeously illustrated with double-page close-up images of the mountain pygmy-possum in its habitat, this is a book to treasure. The simply told text and its illustrations follow a year’s cycle of seasons for a female possum living high in Australia’s Southern Alps. At each stage of the year there are dangers for this creature barely bigger than a mouse. Will it find enough bogong moths…
Nicola Connelly (text) and Annie White (illustrator), My Dad is a Bear, New Frontier Publishing, August 2021, 18 pp., RRP $12.99 (board), ISBN 9781922326249 There’s nothing like a big bear hug from Dad. Luckily for Little Bear, he’s about to find out just how good Dad’s bear hug can be. Little Bear thinks his Dad is a bear, he’s big and round, soft and fury and growls like a bear. But just to be certain, Little Bear asks his Dad, are you really a bear? Nicola Connelly’s text is beautifully simple and repetitive supporting a flow of language suitable for…
Gregg Dreise, Awesome Emu, Magabala Books, October 2021, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781925768732 Awesome Emu tells the story of Djiraboo Dinewah, a boastful Dreamtime emu. Annoyed with his showing-off, Waan the black crow challenges Dinewah to prove he’s as awesome as he claims. Despite being the fastest and most cololurful of all the birds, Dinewah eventually takes on a challenge that is too great, even for him. The vibrant and appealing illustrations combine traditional Aboriginal art elements (such as Dreaming Circles) with contemporary colours. The story is written in the clear and straightforward style typical of Dreaming stories,…
Sophie Dahl (text) & Luciano Lozano (illustrations) The Worst Sleepover in the World, Walker Books, September 2021, 32 pp., RRP: $27.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781406384413 Ramona is beyond excited —her first ever sleepover with her best friend Gracie is about to happen, and she has the schedule planned down to the minutes. But Gracie doesn’t like cheese sandwiches, and Ramona doesn’t like Gracie sleeping in her bed… what happens when the best sleepover in history is the opposite? This story is a funny look at the complexities of young friendships. It’s told from the perspective of Ramona (narrator), which makes it…
Mem Fox (text) and Mark Teague (illustrator), Cat Dog, Penguin Random House Australia, October 2021, 32 pp., RRP $19.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781761045868 From the beloved author of Where is the Green Sheep? and Koala Lou comes this delightful and imaginative ‘call and response’ adventure. You’ve heard of the game of cat and mouse? Well, how about the game of cat and dog and mouse? So there was a scary dog, right? begins the story. Acclaimed illustrator Mark Teague’s highly expressive artwork shows a snarling, stud-collared mutt dominating the sofa as a wide-eyed cat cowers behind. Just when we’re lulled into…
Kim Doherty, Alan Finkel, Australia’s Chief Scientist: 2016-2020 (Aussie STEM Stars series), Wild Dingo Press, September 2021, 168 pp., RRP $14.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781925893434 Danielle Clode, John Long, Fossil Hunter (Aussie STEM Stars series), Wild Dingo Press, October 2021, 168 pp. RRP $14.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781925893687 The idea behind this series from Wild Dingo Press is to tell the inspiring stories of world-leading Australians in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and maths. These two titles cover the former Australian Chief Scientist, Alan Finkel, and world-renowned palaeontologist, Professor John Long. John Long is well-known as the author of some fabulous…
Rosie Day, Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon, 30+ Kick-Ass Women on How to Take Over the World, Hachette Australia, October 2021, 352 pp., RRP $22.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781526364319 Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon is an empowering guide to navigating adolescence as a young woman. The book is filled with inspiring, insightful, and thought-provoking letters written by 32 brilliant and successful women, curated by the award-winning actor and writer Rosie Day. The book delves into a wide range of important topics, such as mental and physical health, friendships, sexuality, self-expression, relationships, consent, and how to change the world. Valuable advice and…
Rachel Williams (text), Freya Hartas (illustrations), Slow Down… and Sleep Tight, Walker Books Australia, September 2021 32 pp., RRP $29.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781913520304 This lovely picture book reconnects us with the rhythms and routines of nature, providing charming depictions of a collection of nature’s plants, animals and physical features as they appear throughout the day and night. Rachel William’s gentle, flowing rhymes recount the activities of different animals or other elements of nature throughout the day/night and finish with a ‘Goodnight’ for those retiring, or a ‘Hello’ – for those that appear of a night-time. A nice introduction for young…
Sally Garland (illustrator), Little Days Out at the Park, New Frontier Publishing, September 2021, 12 pp., RRP $21.25 (board), ISBN 9781913639594 It’s a beautiful day for a picnic in the park, and Granny makes it a special one. Celebrating the joy of playing outdoors, Little Days Out: At the Park is a delightful introductory book for babies and toddlers, exploring all the fun things done outside in nature, from stomping through leaves to feeding the ducks in a pond. Sally Garland’s illustrations are seasonally colourful, and the diversity of characters are wonderfully inclusive. At just the right length at 14 pages for 0-3…