Koala by Claire Saxby
Ill. by Julie Vivas. Nature Storybook series. Walker Books,
2017. ISBN 9781925126396
(Age: 4-8) Highly recommended. Subjects: Koalas.
Climb, little Koala, it's time to find your own way.
Claire Saxby's beautifully written Koala combines a lyrical
narrative with a factual account of the koala's life cycle and Julie
Vivas' evocative watercolour illustrations. This is a wonderful
addition to Walker's Nature Storybook series.
Little koala has grown and now he must leave his mother and find his
own way in the world. With a gentle push, he climbs away to find his
next meal. He faces many dangers: a thundering male koala challenges
him and pushes him off his tree and wild storms. Eucalyptus trees
with burnt bark from a bushfire prove hard to climb and he must
travel further away to find a new home. Scared by a poisonous snake
hiding in the bushes he hops hurriedly away. Eventually he finds a
perfect place for his new home.
Julie Vivas uses her soft water colours in natural tones to bring
little Koala's story to life. Her paintings capture the natural bush
settings and brilliantly portray little Koala's actions, movements
and character. The black of night contrasts with the koala's grey
spiky fur as he wakes from his sleep-curl to a thundering male
koala's roar. There is the desolate landscape of blackened trees and
the charred bark falling as he attempts to climb up.
Saxby's expressive phrases are perfect to read aloud. She captures
his journey poetically; 'koala startles from his sleep-curl' and 'he
listens to the ground-sounds'. She urges him on to find his new
environment with small exhortations, 'climb, little Koala,' move on,
little Koala,' and 'faster, little Koala, faster.' The informational
text is accurate and sparks interest, suitable for a wider range of
ages and reading abilities. Koala is an excellent resource
for Junior Primary classes writing Information Reports and for
research in Science as learners investigate living things, their
interdependence and interactions within ecosystems.
Rhyllis Bignell