Ningaloo – Australia’s
Wild Wonder looks at the extraordinary natural phenomenon of land and sea known as Ningaloo, and celebrates
both the awe-inspiring and quiet things that make this place unique.
Penned by
Australia’s beloved Tim Winton and accompanied by 100s of gorgeous,
hand-painted illustrations by Cindy Lane, it’s a veritable treasure trove of
surprise and information.
From itty
bitty blind fish that live deep in the murky depths, to massive whale sharks in
the glossy blue sea, Ningaloo features more than 50 species of aquatic
and terrestrial animals and plants.
This is a
story about how I came with a MASSIVELY brainy plan to CELAN up all the
disgusting pollution on the beach to help save the whole WORLD!!!!!!
(And also
save my own school holidays)
(Which is
not so important as saving the world, I know)
(But I
thought I’d mention it anyway)
(In case
you guys are interested)
This book
from beloved duo Danny Katz and Mitch Vane (think ‘Little Lunch!’) bears
all their hallmark signatures – chaotic, messy words and word-play, with wacky illustrations
that make you laugh out loud and spit drink out your nose.
One step,
two steps, what can you find?
This book,
with its sumptuous illustrations and specially cut-out pages, celebrates all of
the good things about a walk on the beach.
From two
award-winning creators and told from the visual point of view of a small child,
the book takes us on an adventure through the high tide line, finding treasures
large and small from both under and out of the water.
Much of that recent SE QLD tropical cyclone turbulence resulted in storm surge, disastrous beach erosion and record-breaking massive wave heights (12.3 metres off the Gold Coast).
You don’t have to be an ex-sailor, like me, or even a storm chaser to appreciate the wonders of weather however; the pulse and rhythm of waves has a hypnotic pull that most of us find difficult to resist.
Which is why, Thames &
Hudson’s latest atlas-styled publication about the phenomena of waves rates
high on my barometer of brilliant reads.
Following
a similar format to Cloud
Atlas, Wave Atlas: Everything You Need To Know About Waves, takes young
readers (and old sea dogs like myself) through a fascinating journey around our
water dominated planet. We explore the hows and whys of our oceans’ existence
and the global currents, tidal pulls and meteorological conditions that induce
those great oceans to move.
The lists of vital preparations to be made before setting out to journey though
Wild Australia should be adhered to.
These necessities create an immediate awareness of the environment and our role in its protection, from the first page where it sits in the company of a numbered map of Australia.
Look out for wildlife is a main one.
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Did you
know that pandas can do hand-stands?
That some
penguins make their very own poo bombs?
Or that
tigers have spikes on their tongues?
Well now
you do. You’re welcome.
The
world-class wildlife experts at Taronga zoo have captured some of the most
exciting and crazy information for us to laugh at, marvel over and wonder about.
AND they remind us that although this is the current leading-edge science, it
may not always be – so it’s important to remain open and curious about the
world around you.
Four
artists and a designer (who we meet at the back end of the book) have brought
the animals to life visually in the most beautiful ways. The layout, colour,
line, space, movement, flow and vibrance of the information and illustrations
are very special – alive and engaging.
There is so much to love about this book, not least that it’s divided into
segments with easy to read maps - which help us to navigate our way through chapters
organised by habitats that feature land animals, mountain dwellers, sea creatures,
and the like.
Coloured
side tabs indicate where in the book you are, and each page is chock full to
the brim with text boxes, fun facts, vibrant colour or engaging double spreads
with dreamy colour and gorgeous design.
This lush,
friendly book contains much to pore over and marvel at. It’s perfect for
dipping into at leisure, and a wonderful bonus – it also shares the Taronga
Conservation Society’s important work with endangered and critical species.
It will no
doubt adorn coffee tables, perhaps become the centrepiece for family games, and
be a frequent visitor on bedside book piles.
Perfect for Christmas! Or as a gift for any special occasion.
Maisie is learning how to swim safely. With her Dad by her side she practices jumping waves and knowing when it's better to dive under them.
When Maisie hesitates to dive under a bigger wave, she discovers the strength of the water as it tumbles her about and dumps her. Maisie's fortunate that Dad's there to pull her to safety.
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Any reader whose eye is caught by this awesomeness, will not be disappointed by the story and art inside either.
From the fabulous
endpapers [you
know my thoughts on this topic by now] and
throughout the delightful rhyming narrative, to the sweet and affirming ending,
this is a hit all round.
With a welcome mix of remarkable true stories and facts, the revised and expanded version of Absolutely Everything contains a wealth of information to leave you spell-bound.
A feast for
the eyes and brain, this book gets in your ear about random and interesting
things - like the interconnections between science, history and the nature of
planet earth. And all are broached in the most wonderful, accessible ways.
Their responses are as different as their illustration and writing styles – distinctive, heartfelt and compelling. In classic picture book format, the sixteen contributing children’s book illustrators, teachers, artists, zoologists, poets and all-round creative souls are each allocated a double-page spread to answer the question.
Set
entirely under the surface of the ocean, this book dives into friendship,
connection, caring for each other and being open to new ideas.
Mr Clownfish and Miss Anemone are, quite simply, the very best of friends. Because she is fixed to the one spot, Miss Anemone relies upon Mr Clownfish to bring his bestie small, delicious sea morsels to snack upon.
Meet Mim is one of those immersive picture books that children and their adults will return to over and over.
It’s the story of Mim, a Mimic
Octopus who turns herself inside out and upside down to trick others and, it
would seem, to delight herself.
Mim is a seahorse, a feather star, a stingray, a sea snake – you name it, if it lives in the ocean, it seems that she is willing to try it on as camouflage!
