Easter Bilby's friends: Banjo Frog's concert spectacular by Kristin Martin & Bianca Richardson

Banjo Frog’s Concert Spectacular sends a very significant conservation message to readers young and old. This is the first book in a series that will support the work of the Rabbit Free Australia organisation  Home - Rabbit Free Australia which hopes that “Easter Bilby’s Friends books introduce native plants and animals suffering due, at least to some extent, to rabbits; and how humans are coming to their aid.”

The engaging cover by Bianca Richardson with the lively and joyful Australian animals is an immediate draw in for readers. The clever endpapers, front and back, show the animals’ feelings through the book from not being able to perform to finally holding their concert. The bold illustrations throughout complement the creative arrangement of text and ideas.

Easter Bilby has arrived in the southern Mount Lofty Ranges on the Fleurieu Peninsula, all set for the annual Easter concert. Sadly though Banjo Frog is too hungry due to a lack of insects to eat, Glossy Black Cockatoo is too hungry because there are no sheoak seeds to eat and Southern Brown Bandicoot is too tired as there are no bushes to sleep under. Easter Beilby explains that due to wild rabbits eating the native vegetation that there is no longer food and shelter for the animals that live there. Easter Bilby comes up with the idea to send children a letter asking for help. The children respond and change begins.

In the final pages facts behind the story are shared with detailed information about each of the animals and the sheoak tree affected by wild rabbits.  Banjo Frog’s Concert Spectacular is an important story to be shared with children of all ages. Teacher Resources are available.

Themes: Easter, Bilby, Frogs, Nature, Concerts, Environmental Issues, Conservation, Wild Rabbits.

Kathryn Beilby