Bush birds by Helen Milroy

A strong sturdy little book suited to fit into small hands with a solid cover, this book shows many Australian birds in their differing environments. Helen, a descendent of the Palyful people of the Pilbara, uses a playful rhyming techniques to tell her readers about the birds, the text introducing a highlighted word in larger font in each line. In this way readers will gain some understanding of the habits of some of the birds. A wren pops out of its nest, a budgerigar rolls in the dew, a rosella cleans her feathers in a puddle, and so on. Each bird is distinctively illustrated, its surrounds made clear with minimal images.

Each double page has the text on one side with a visual treat facing it. The brightly designed motifs form a colourful background to the image of each bird. So kids will also get to know a king parrot, black cockatoo, eagle, cassowary, brolga, emu and lorikeet. Each stunning background reprises a style of artwork that is seen before in Helen Miloroy’s growing volume of work.  More can be found out about Helen and her work at Fremantle Press website, or Magabala website.

Children will recall her books from Fremantle Press about Backyard bugs, Backyard beasties and birds, as well as those from Magabala Press presenting stories about Willy-willy wagtail and cockatoo wars.

The endpapers reprise the birds shown through the book, and the last page of the text asks the readers to see how many birds they can find. A great way to end the reading of this attractive little book.

Themes: Birds, Aboriginal art, Humour, Rhyming text.

Fran Knight