Review: Where The River Runs Free

This spring weather is just glorious and a perfect time for a family walk out in the beauty and calm of nature. Why not follow the example of this family as they take an adventurous walk along the local river.

What might they see? A frog? Birds? Tadpoles?  Butterflies? Platypus? Wattle blossoms?

What might they hear? Splashes and sploshes, waddles and flops, rumbles and scratches.

It’s a feast of onomatopoeia that is just perfect for  your younger readers. Follow the children as they take their curiosity, and  find their joy in the simple pleasures of paddling in the water and observing the bush. And, of course, a picnic lunch is perfect to snack on when it’s time to rest up before making their way home.

Each spread has minimal text in a good-sized font for those beginning to read independently. As you would expect from this award-winning author each word and phrase is carefully chosen and placed for best effect. You will have readers not just reading along with you but, I am quite sure, mimicking those action words.  

And we know for certain that Jedda Robaard's unmistakable illustrations are the icing on the cake for any picture book. These gentle watercolours and the sweet expressions of the children are a perfect match for the ‘slow living’ vibe of this one.

What better way to follow up the reading than with your own bush adventure?  You may not have a handy river but a creek, the beach, a park or a paddock are all good substitutes. The kiddos won’t mind. They will just love heading to the great outdoors and exploring.

I’d happily give a big 5 🏞🏞🏞🏞🏞 riparian rating for readers from toddlers upwards to around year 2/3.

Title: Where The River Runs Free
Author: Vikki Conley
Illustrator: Jedda Robaard
Publisher: Windy Hollow Books, $29.95
Date of Publication: July 2025
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781922998217

For Ages: 2 - 5
Type: Picture Book