Australian animals and bush settings are the draw cards in
this third book of the Mudpoo adventure stories. Tightly knitted to the
storyline, and reflected in all the scenes of camaraderie between the characters,
is the easy-going lifestyle of the bush and the beauty of the natural world. But the book’s value is due in large
part to the exceptional and detailed ink pen artwork depicting the plethora of
Australian native birds and animals.
There is a strong sense of country atmosphere throughout the
book. I felt that I was part of the surroundings, for I could easily visualise
the animals scuttling through the brush and the sight of eagles and owls
perched on the limbs of trees, while flames from the camp fire cooked food for
Captain Pete and his company. It was the perfect description of the stink of
Fungus McPhee’s smelly socks and his rabbit dung tobacco that convinced me that
I had been transported into the author’s realm.
Each character owns a singular characteristic that imprints
them on the mind of the reader. Mudpoo, after making a wish on the Magic Tree
Stump, can communicate with the animals of the bush. Gus is a talking VW Kombi Van,
and Captain Pete an inventor of creative and necessary things. By the end of
the book, you feel you know well the old gold and copper mining town of
Bethanga in North-Eastern Victoria close to Lake Hume. But there is a map at
the end, just in case.
There are strong environmental references throughout the
book, and although there is a mention of exterminating the rabbits by violent
means, that is overridden by the fact that crotchety old men do at times have
wild thoughts.
This book is well-presented and produced on quality paper
with earthy-coloured backgrounds that serve to further highlight the intricate
and well-crafted illustrations that bring originality to the text.
Title: Mudpoo and the Fungus Mystery
Author: Peter Klein
Illustrator: Leon de Montignie
Publisher: JoJo Publishing, $18.99 RRP
Publication Date: October 2013
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780987358622
For ages: 8–11
Type: Middle Fiction
