Parcel for Koala by Shelley Knoll-Miller

Anyone who lives in Australia knows of the noise made when a mob of white cockatoos passes overhead. The squark and speech of these animals is enough for anyone to cover their ears and hope they move on quickly. Pity then poor koala and his friends a bat and a possum. They cannot sleep with all the noise and when kangaroo comes along with a parcel for koala, no one can hear the name of the person who the parcel is for.

As koala begins to unwrap the parcel his friends suggest what may have been sent from turtle. Could it be a harp as a harp could play lullabies to get them to sleep, or a hammock in which to sleep, or perhaps ear muffs. The suggestions from koala’s friends are rejected and koala unwraps the parcel to reveal a skipping rope.

Parcel for koala presents a mysterious guessing game for young readers, as questions are asked for them to ponder and question.

Zany illustrations parallel the text with colour and movement. I love the end papers showing just how the cockatoos interrupt koala and his friends’ sleep.

The first book in the series, Parcel for penguin was released earlier this year.

Themes: Australian animals, Sleep, Cockatoos, Humour.

Fran Knight