Jedda Robaard, George the Bilby Chef and the Raspberry Muffin Surprise, The Five Mile Press, Feb 2016, 32pp., $14.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781760067113
The anthropomorphism of native Australian animals is a tried and tested way of cosily affirming cultural identity – as seen in this new book in a series by Jedda Robaard.
George is a bilby who wants to cook buns for his friend’s birthday tea. Finding the key ingredient proves tricky and he needs the help and ingenuity of his other friends, teaching the reader about asking for and listening to advice. All the animals cooperate and the baking is a joint adventure.
Making stories out of the everyday is what pre-school life is all about and this age group will enjoy being read this tale. The smaller, square format, watercolours in gentle hues and curly script text carry a somewhat wordy text along at a comforting gentle pace. For me the colours are a bit too pastel pale and the final drawings of Betty the echidna do not hold the same whimsical charm of Robaard’s many other book characters.
The back endpaper holds an envelope with recipe card for the famous muffins.
Reviewed by Liz Anelli