Review: Australian Animals from Beach To Bush


I’m currently embracing all things Aussie and story. This means my awareness and appreciation for the stories created on Traditional Country, Sky Country and Sea Country is slowly but surely growing. It’s a wonderful study to be part of, acknowledging the stories, culture and history of our First Nations people and basking in their enormous pools of knowledge.

This new release from the creative brains of Brentos is not just another picture book listing the conservational status of our unique Australian wildlife, it is a colourful ode to the Aussie bush and surrounding seas connecting readers with the heart and soul of the land on which they reside. And it’s a corker.

Sadly though, not every creature is thriving alongside our human existence or more accurately, because of it. Australian Animals From Beach To Bush, clearly identifies species from coral reefs to inland skylines that are vulnerable, endangered or currently doing okay. Definitions are coloured coded prior to journeying from beach to bush which ensures accessibility for confident readers,

What really sets this picture book apart from its contemporaries is the sheer number of Australian animals included. Environments and individual species are featured in luxuriant double page spreads that invite the reader into the world these animals inhabit. We are then given the exciting task of spotting a myriad of creatures that coexist in these habitats for example kelp forests, coastal wetlands, and eucalyptus forests.

Challenges are enhanced by encouraging youngsters to ‘look and find’ a quoted number of the named animals thus by combining the elements of a fun game, children are committing to memory the features, characteristics and habitats of each creature in similar ways our First Nations people have passed on crucial animal and location identifiers via Songlines.

Another defining difference is the artwork employed throughout. Brentos use their ‘signature style’ which incorporates simple bold rounded lines with soft whimsical pastels to portray the bush and beach. Fur feather and fin details are absent in favour of contoured shading. Like-colour palettes accentuate time and place; the greater bilby’s homeland in the savanna is a delicious smorgasbord of ochres, pinks and muted yellows for instance. Animals sport large almost comical eyes, even the most minute ladybird and cicada, creating an inviting sense of play for young readers, cementing attention and encouraging deeper exploration – just as they would if they were actually walking Country. Wonderful. Clever. Unique.

The lesson (and I use that term loosely as this experience is way more fun than being in the classroom), doesn’t stop there. Extinct animals get their own spread too, hued in subdued sombre shades of grey and black; a reminder that while we are the harbingers of change, we must be ever mindful of how change impacts our magical lands and seas. Thankfully, the creators leave us with a few easy-to-implement ways to help us better connect with nature and help Australian animals. What more could you ask for!

A singularly beautiful picture book highly recommended for primary school classrooms, libraries and home bookshelves. 

Title:  Australian Animals From Beach To Bush
Author Illustrator:  Brentos
Publisher:  Affirm, $24.99
Publication Date:  31 October 2023
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781922930408
For ages:  3+
Type:  Non-fiction Picture Book

Buy the Book: Affirm Press      

Footnote: Australia From Dawn To Dusk is another title in this collection. A glorious colour-filled journey from sun up to sun down through a spectacular array of landscapes and Australian locations, each perfectly hued in colours that match the time of day as well as the environment peculiar to that place. Snippets of intriguing information about the inhabitants and their habits according to the time of day provide a delicious all-round reading experience. These books by dual creators, Bentos make gorgeous gifts and bookshelf treasures. Highly recommended.

 

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