The Bush Birds by Bridget Farmer

"In among the undergrowth, through the bark and leaves. Looking for an insect meal, I hop and peck, and weave."

The Bush Birds is a beautifully designed Non-Fiction book. The illustrations are scientific but also artistic and at times almost tactile. The restrained colour palette and the pale wash backgrounds are very appealing. The small flaps are perfectly positioned and work really well to reveal the bird’s name and the glossary or bird fact pages give just enough information to satisfy a curious child. The rhyming text works so well in this book as an invitation to lift the flap and solve the puzzle. Nearly all of the twelve featured birds were unknown to me.

Each bird has a little riddle to give you a clue as to what it may be. Children can lift the flap to learn the name of each one. The back of the book includes a snapshot of each bird—a lovely way to introduce children to our native birdlife- perfect for a bushwalk. The illustrations are created from drypoint etchings which have been hand coloured with watercolour paints. Be Curious Books

I need to especially mention the end papers which are filled with gum nuts and leaves in pale olive green and light brown. It is so obvious that Bridget Farmer is a very skilled print maker. 

Spotted Pardalote

Here are a few of the birds you will find inside: White-browed scrubwren; Diamon Firetail; Spotted Pardalote; Golden Whistler and Dusky Woodswallow.  Bridget, who came to Australia from Ireland in 2005,  says: These birds are maybe a bit less well known than the twelve birds in my first book, Kookaburra Kookaburra. But I hope that by interacting with the riddles and illustrations readers will soon familiarise themselves with these beautiful birds and find enjoyment in seeking them out while out on their bushwalks.

This book would make a beautiful gift for a young bird enthusiast and I would also add this book to any parcel of books you might send to a friend or relative living overseas. 

The Bush Birds is a 2022 Eve Pownall (Non Fiction) Notable book. Bridget Farmer has a web site where you can see more of her work. You can see inside The Bush Birds here. Read more about many of the CBCA 2022 Notables here. 

Bridget Farmer previously published this book about our special bird - the kookaburra: