The cockatoo wars by Helen Milroy

The Cockatoo Wars is the fourth book in the beautifully presented Tales from the Bush Mob series. First Nations author Helen Milroy has captured the essence of collaboration and resolution in a story about two warring cockatoo clans.

The two cockatoo clans, one black and one white, are at loggerheads over who is responsible for looking after the ancient forest. The continual bickering of the boss cockatoos leads to stress for the young chicks whose health suffers; nor do they hear the traditional stories of looking after the forest. After a particularly heated argument, two chicks fall from their nests and the mothers are not sure which baby is their own. They all flee to the other side of the forest and the babies are raised in harmony and grow strong. A fire threatens the ancient forest, and the cockatoo clans must join together with the other bush animals to save their home. The warring bosses realise the error of their ways and peace finally reigns.

This book is cleverly set out in narrative style with three separate sections: The Cockatoo Clans, Fire Warning, How the Bush Mob Saved the Forest.  The striking full-page illustrations with white or black text are engaging and add so much to the story. The endpapers show a map of where each of the bush mob live.

The Cockatoo Wars is a delightful read to share with children of all ages with a valuable lesson about conflict with its possibility of devasting implications, as well as the joy and harmony a resolution can bring.

Themes: First Nation’s Stories, Australian Animals, Collaboration, Conflict, Problem Solving, Harmony, Listening, Family, Resolution.

Kathryn Beilby