'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Sunday 20 May 2018

Review: Kookaburras love to laugh

Laura and Philip Bunting, creators of Koalas Eat Gum Leaves, have released a new page turning, witty and amusing story about Australia's most jubilant bird, Kookaburras love to laugh.

Koobaburras laugh when it is sunny, rainy, windy and sometimes even for no reason at all. Can you imagine a kookaburra that does not laugh? In fact this kookaburra is quite serious. He knows that he is different from his flock because he does not find their jokes and pranks funny.

Frustrated, Kookaburra leaves home to find some new friends that he might get along with better. Each flock that he meets have their own flaws and Kookaburra thinks they are rude, loud, too quick, wild, greedy and mean.


Just as Kookaburra is is about to give up looking, he finds the perfect flock, where he can be his serious self. But soon he realises that something is not right. Will Kookaburra find out where he really belongs?

Kookaburras love to laugh deals with themes of stereotypes, difference, fitting-in, self-discovery and acceptance in a way that can help start conversations with children aged 4 to 8.

Laura's words in Kookaburras love to laugh will have you chuckling with its clever play on words. The jokes are aimed at the early childhood humour level which will have the children laughing uproariously, 'What goes kookookaka...plop?'

Philip cleverly illustrates the story adding in extra layers of detail to it, creating humour with pictures. Kookaburras love to laugh is Philip's fourth book and his illustrations are instantly recognisable from his other stories Mopoke and Sandcastle.

Title: Kookaburras love to laugh
Author: Laura Bunting
Illustrator: Philip Bunting
Publisher: Scholastic Australia, $16.99
Publication Date: 1 March 2018
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781742769660
For ages: 4 - 8
Type: Picture Books