Unreal: Can you tell fact from fake? by Kate Simpson illustrated by Leila Rudge

"Some of the displays from our Myths and Legends exhibit were brought here to the Natural History wing (of the museum) by mistake. ... 

Could you help me sort the real-world animals from the myths?"

This is a fantastic book and it has been so thoroughly researched - and the coloured pencil illustrations by Leila Rudge are perfect. I was alerted to this book when I saw the brochure for a recent local children's CBCA NSW event where Kate Simpson was one of the guests. I will confess I don't read many nonfiction books but I really enjoyed testing myself on each of the challenges - real or unreal. AND I was wrong more than I was right.

Every teacher of Grades 3-6 and every school library should make a chart using the introductory page from this book which explores these important research questions:

• Who is providing me with this information?
• Do they have evidence for their claims?
• Why are they telling me this?
• How recent is the information?
• Do other sources agree?

The first habitat was easy - which is real which is unreal - Kraken; Vampire Squid; Marine Iguana; Narwhal; Lamprey = Kraken. But then I started to go wrong. I had never heard of a Chupacabra - turns out this creature is an urban legend. Thank goodness because it is supposed to drink the blood of its prey. I also learnt some new vocab from this book such as the word cryptid which means an animal that some people believe is real but whose existence is not backed by science - such as the Loch Ness Monster. I am also curious to read more about foxfire fungus; the turtle frog (its Australian); zombi ant fungus; and the plantasian. I did think sewer alligators could be real - luckily they are not. Kate Simpson tried to trick me but I knew the spaghetti tree was an April fool's joke.

This book would be a delight to share with a class. If you or your school are members of PETAA they have developed some teaching ideas. There are ten animal categories in this book. I think it would be fun to share one category with your students each week. You could share the page; spend three or four days researching the creatures; vote for your choice of 'unreal' and then reveal the truth at the end of each week. A related topic could be museums - check out this Pinterest. 

We know that sorting fact from fiction is a useful skill for all readers to acquire as early as possible. This book with its tantalizing topics, its brief descriptive texts accompanying the engaging illustrations will keep children engaged and learning for hours. It’s a book to explore, to delve into and to share. Storylinks

This book is brimming with fascinating creatures, some I had not heard of (the turtle frog, tarsier and jerboa to name some) and mesmerising facts for each creature. The facts included are unique to each animal and may include information about their diet, habitat, adaptations, temperament, as well as information about what makes them unique, their life cycle plus many other engaging facts. For the incredible plants and fungi included (a plant that moves, a tree with exploding fruit, a carnivorous plant and the zombie-ant fungus) readers will learn more enthralling facts about each of these. Reading opens Doors

Author blurb: There's been a mix-up at the Museum - some of the displays from the Myths and Legends exhibit have snuck into the Natural History wing. We have to sort it out, but how can we tell fact from fiction? Animal from apparition? Megafauna from monster? Kids will have fun guessing which animals and plants are real and which are fake in this extraordinary exhibition of the strange and wonderful animals and plants that inhabit our world ... and our imaginations. And a brilliant guide to help us know what to look for when tracking down truths.

I missed this book last year - I was so pleased to see Unreal was a 2025 CBCA Eve Pownall Notable title. 

I previously adored these books by Kate Simpson:

How to move a zoo

Ouch!

Leila Rudge is the illustrator of two books that I really loved sharing with readers in my school library. We have sent her an invitation to participate in our IBBY Australia Mini Masterpiece art auction for 2025. I do hope she agrees to send us a post card sized piece of her beautiful art.

Gary

Once upon a small rhinoceros

IBBY Australia

Dear Leila,

We need your support. We were so delighted by the success of the inaugural 2023 Mini Masterpieces fundraiser that we’re going to run it again to raise funds for the Australian branch of the International Board on Books for Young People, IBBY Australia. 

We’re inviting celebrated Australian children’s book illustrators to donate post-card sized artworks for an online auction. Can you take part?

Formed in 1966, IBBY Australia is one of 82 National sections of IBBY, and each year must pay a membership fee of almost $10 000 to remain part of the international IBBY organisation.

IBBY was established following the Second World War and aims to build bridges to international understanding through children’s books. As you may be aware, IBBY Australia promotes Australian authors and illustrators by submitting their work for several IBBY administered international awards, including:

• the Hans Christian Andersen Award

• IBBY Honour Book List

• the Silent Books collection 

• the Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities list 

The Mini Masterpieces auction will run from 14 November to 28 November, with the original artworks promoted as a unique Christmas gift. Each piece will have a reserve of $75.

We welcome your support to help IBBY Australia continue to promote Australian creators internationally. Your contribution will be acknowledged and celebrated on our website and our social media channels. 

The Curious Explorer's Illustrated Guide to Exotic Animals A to Z by Marc Martin

Start here with my previous post "Meet the Illustrator Marc Martin".

Now back to The Curious Explorer's Illustrated Guide to Exotic Animals A to Z. Begin with the title - curious - this book is sure to lead children and adults to want to discover more about the, well curious, animals in this huge format book. Illustrated - yes the illustrations are wonderful - each a work of art to linger over. Guide - each animal also has the Latin name and there is a small fact box for each on the final spread. Exotic animals (from around the world) - such as the loris; quetzal; armadillo; ibex; macaw; narwhal; and hippopotamus. There are several Australian animals (Marc Martin is an Australian illustrator) - kangaroo; Tasmanian devil; and yellow-tailed black cockatoo. And A to Z of course adds a layer of organisation to this book which is always appealing especially to a Teacher-Librarian. I previously talked about alphabet books on this video for IBBY Australia. 

Electric Eel and Flamingo

Owl and Quetzal

Bookseller blurb: From armadillo to zebras, chameleons to quetzals, these exotic animals will surprise and delight. No curious explorer should be without Marc Martin's stunning celebration of strange and beautiful creatures from all over the world. Here is a book of wonder, a unique and breathtaking treasure from one of Australia's most outstanding new talents.

The Curious Explorer's Guide to Exotic Animals A to Z was published in 2013 so it might be difficult to buy a new copy but I am certain you will be able to find this book in many school and public libraries. In 2013 this book was included as a Standing Order title from Scholastic (see the teachers notes). If I had room on my own shelves I would love to add a copy of this beautiful book.

So much more than an alphabet book, this delightful children’s picture book shares the inspiration its creator finds in the world around him. Each letter of the alphabet depicts an animal interpreted through graphic design-style illustration. Those are the facts, but the reality is that each individual illustration uses art techniques and lush textures that sets them apart. Just so stories

Today I am heading off to meet Marc Martin. His newest book Dawn will be featured at an event at Gleebooks Kids. Last week I was shelving some books in a library where I am doing some volunteer work and I spied the Curious Explorer's Guide. Here is the cover of his new book Dawn.

When I was a very young child someone gifted me this animal alphabet book published in 1961. This goes part of the way towards explain my fascination with this topic.

Clouds, Waves and Wind by Sarah Zambello illustrated by Susy Zanella

Reading Time: There is so much to look at, read about and think about on each page that this book could not be read-through in one sitting. It is a book to return to over and over again, learning a little more each time and gradually coming to appreciate the long history of love and curiosity humanity has had with the sea. The production and design are handsome, professional, and irresistible.

Bookseller blurb: Come on an illustrated expedition across the seas to discover why the ocean has always fascinated us. Ride over wild seas and calm waters. Learn about currents, tides and how to classify waves. Be awestruck by the power of the ocean.

I spied one book from this series in a city bookstore and I was hooked. If I was still purchasing books for my school library I would most certainly add these three titles. The Wave Atlas for example would be so perfect for my previous school which is located in a coastal suburb - as you might imagine surfing is a very popular sport and I am sure the students are quite expert on the topic of waves. Thames and Hudson always produce books of the highest quality. The retail price of these books is AUS$35 but I have found copies online for around AUS$28. The author and illustrator are both from Italy.  Each book has 80 pages and are aimed at readers aged 8+. 

Here are the Italian titles: Nuvolario. Atlante delle nuvole (Clouds); Ondario. I movimenti del mare (Waves); Ventario. Le Scale dei Venti (Wind); and one we don't have in English yet about Snow - Nevario. Le forme della neve. There is also one about Comets in Italian.  I love the cover of the waves book:

As with Cloud Atlas, the same creative duo behind Wave Atlas somehow manages to bring the concept of waves alive. Enticing snippets of historical information weave throughout the text while real images and artwork distil together leaving no doubt as to the many moods and forces the ocean is capable of assuming. Kids' Book Review

Here are the other two titles:

Bookseller blurb: Come on an illustrated expedition through the atmosphere to learn about the world's air currents. Discover ways to measure the wind's force and learn how air pressure systems affect the weather. Float on gentle breezes, sway as the wind picks up and get blown away by a gale force. It's time to get swept up by the power of the wind.

Cloud Atlas takes this scientific obsession up a level or atmosphere as it were. Presenting as a benign coffee table type book, this beautiful collection of clouds speaks to Nephophiles (lovers of all things cloudy) and curious kids alike. Kids' Book Review

Reading Time: Clouds are with us nearly every day, offering us moods, shade, beauty, and fascinating shapes that prompt our imaginations. Sarah Zambello’s Cloud Atlas is an introduction for children, offering scientific, artistic and historical answers to all the questions they might have about clouds. Each page is comprehensively illustrated, either schematically or realistically, in gentle blues, whites and sunset or sunrise colours.

Bookseller blurb: Come on an illustrated expedition across the sky to discover why clouds have always fascinated us. Enjoy blazing sunsets, raging storms, bright blue skies and inky nights while learning the different types of clouds and what kind of weather you can expect from each variation.

It's time to see the skies with new eyes.

I am a bit crazy about clouds - I joined the Facebook group The Cloud Appreciation Society where people post photos of the most amazing clouds. And one of my most favourite books (long long out of print and very old) is this one:

Clouds

Meet the illustrator Marc Martin

Begin with this video of the book A Forest by Marc Martin - the book is wonderful of course but this is also one of the best book videos I have ever seen. 

Just having my books published has been a highlight! A Forest was originally self-published, but I was lucky enough to get the attention of Penguin Australia who seemed to think it was worthy of a larger publishing deal! Reading the reviews for A Forest has been really exciting, and having the book compared to those by Jeannie Baker (one of my favourite picture book authors) is a real thrill.

Marc Martin is an illustrator and author based in Naarm/Melbourne. He works across a range of commercial projects, murals, editorial work, gallery shows and picture books. He is the author-illustrator of internationally award-winning books, including A Forest, A River, Everything & Everywhere and Masters of Disguise. He has twice been awarded Best Illustrated Picture Book by the New York Times, for A River (2017) and We Are Starlings (2023).

You can follow Marc Martin on Instagram. Perusing the webpages on his agent's site you will see Marc Martin has designed all sorts of things - cups for T2; Melbourne city brochures; wine bottle labels; covers for book catalogues; cushion covers; water bottles and keep cups; a huge city mural; and even a jigsaw (it is a circle and it has 1000 pieces!). You can also see his art and some of these extra things on his own webpage.  Here is a Q&A with Marc. 

Here on this blog I have previously talked about:

A River

Max 

(I own a limited edition print from this book - it is a piece of art I cherish)

A Stone is a Story

Here is the Kirkus review

Here are some other books illustrated by Marc Martin that you are sure to find in your local or school library:

Do not hide this book! Kirkus

Kirkus Star review: Captivating watercolor art immediately draws readers in. Before the title page, a blue-and-green map of Earth’s continents appears, superimposed with 12 circles; each circle contains a portrait of one of the upcoming subjects. Also preceding the title page, the author notes the importance of humans’ protecting habitat in order to save animals, “even when we can’t always see them!” Two double-page spreads are devoted to each animal, starting with chameleons. The first spread for each animal uses an ideal amount of negative space to set off short, titled paragraphs and art that perfectly complements the text. For example, “Sticky Situation” gives fascinating facts about a chameleon’s tongue as one whips across the top of the paragraph. The second double-page spread for each animal offers fun that will entice even 3-year-olds. A small amount of text lets readers know how many of the featured animal are hiding in each lushly painted environment—from eight mimic octopuses to 17 owl butterflies—as well as the names of other animals hidden there. The conversational text clearly defines words such as metamorphosis and opisthoglyphous (having fangs at the back of the upper jaw). Both art and text enhance scientific accuracy with beauty and playfulness—a rare feat. Sturdy pages, too.

If you love art by Sydney Smith from Canada you are certain to fall in love with all the books by our Australian illustrator Marc Martin. 

Here is the new book Dawn [9781529527346] from Marc Martin which will arrive here in September. I have put it at the top of my 'to buy' list.

You can see a few images from this book here. Blurb from author page: As the sun slowly rises, many things happen in a small window of time. The world comes alive with the actions of animals, plants, clouds, and sky. A deer drinks, an owl wakes, a dandelion shimmers in the light. A ladybug climbs, a fish jumps, birds call in a chorus. Geese fly away in formation. A flower blooms. Beautifully illustrated with glowing imagery and written with a charming simplicity holding appeal for new readers, Marc Martin’s ode to the slow-blooming beauty of a sunrise and the life that unfolds in its radiance narrows the lens to show the wonder of time passing. The Kirkus Star review said:

Truly stunning

His other new book is All About Antarctica due for release here in Australia in mid October 2025.

When I attended the USBBY conference in Austin Texas and I spoke at the Texas writer's festival I was keen to take a notebook because I knew there would be lots of great sessions. At the airport I was so delighted to find a notebook with a cover design by Marc Martin.  Here is the pattern on the cover.

Image source: Jacky Winter

IBBY Australia will be running our mini masterpiece art auction again this year as a way to raise funds for our IBBY international membership fee which is more than AUS$10,000. I am going to invite Marc Martin to participate and send us a small postcard sized piece of art for our auction. In 2023 we raised nearly AUS$9000 and we had art from some wonderful Australian illustrators - hopefully this event will be just as exciting in 2025. I hope he agrees to send us a tiny piece of his art as a part of our 2025 auction. Fingers Crossed!

Meet the illustrator Sami Bayly

Image source: Sami Bayly web page

Here in Australia we are so LUCKY to have a talent like Sami Bayly. And we are so lucky she has applied her amazing illustration skills to the production of the most fabulous nonfiction books about animals of all shapes and sizes. Every reader, young or old, is sure to discover an animal that they have never ever heard of in one of her books. These book are sure to spark curiosity and they are a fabulous resource for a classroom. Sami is also a fabulous presenter. I heard her speak to a huge crowd of children and teachers at an event last year and she totally captured the attention of everyone.

In this interview Sami Bayly talks about her processes. Her web page contains a wealth of materials to explore. 

Sami's first book, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Ugly Animals, won the Children's Indie Book of the Year Award and the Australian Book Design Award for Younger Readers. It was a CBCA Honour Book and was shortlisted for an ABIA Book of the Year for Younger Children and longlisted for the ABA Booksellers' Choice 2020 Book of the Year Awards. Her second book, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dangerous Animals, was a CBCA Honour Book, an ABIA Book of the Year for Younger Children, won an Australian Book Design Award for Younger Readers and was shortlisted for the Children's Indie Book of the Year 2020. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Peculiar Pairs was shortlisted for the CBCA Eve Pownall Award and longlisted for Children's Indie Book of the Year Award.

I visited a school library today planning to borrow The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Extinct Animals by Sami Bayly partly because it is a 2025 CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) Eve Pownall (Non Fiction) Notable or long list title. In my hurry I picked up the wrong book - a companion volume The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Ugly Animals and this turns out to be Sami's very first book.

You can see inside this book here.

The CBCA judges said:

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Extinct Animals by Sami Bayly is a visually stunning and deeply moving tribute to the species lost to extinction. The book’s vintage-style design, with its fabric spine and tactile cover, evokes a sense of nostalgia, while the carefully structured content delivers an urgent message about conservation. The four-page contents section immediately sets a somber tone, featuring grey symbolic images of each extinct creature. However, the true artistry lies in the detailed double-page spreads that follow, where Bayly’s exquisite watercolor illustrations bring each animal to life. The inclusion of size comparisons, from the diminutive Yunnan Lake Newt to the imposing Megalania, provides readers with a tangible sense of scale. Each entry follows a consistent format, offering scientific classification, description, diet, extinction status, and habitat, along with an engaging 'fun facts' section. The meticulous organization makes the book both an accessible reference and an immersive reading experience. With an introduction dedicated to lost species and a call to conservation, this book is not only an informative resource but also a powerful reminder of humanity’s impact on the natural world. A beautifully crafted and thought-provoking addition to Bayly’s series, it is an essential title for young readers and educators alike. 

Readings in Melbourne list three reasons why you should read this book about extinct animals and read this one from Kids' Book Review.  

Bookseller blurb: Marvel as you enter the fascinating hidden world of ugly animals in this encyclopedia of the animal kingdom's most unusual and beauty-challenged species. It's time for ugly animals to shine! With more than sixty ugly animals to explore, this compendium of the unusual celebrates the beauty in 'ugliness'. Children and adults alike will pore over the breathtaking scientific illustrations of unusual animals, debating their relative ugliness and merits, learning about science and nature along the way. Featuring illustrations and facts about the thorniest species the animal kingdom has to offer, from the naked mole rat to the goblin shark, aye-aye, sphinx cat, blobfish and many more 'ugly' beauties.

This might sound odd but I feel a little sorry for the ugly animals. I love that Sami Bayly says her book is a celebration of "the beauty in ugliness". Actually, a few of these creatures are somewhat appealing - the American Manatee; the Aye-aye; the Saiga Antelope; and the Helmeted Hornbill. You can see art from this book here. 

Image source: Sydney Morning Herald

A companion book could be Blob The Ugliest animal in the World by Joy Sorman illustrated by Olivier Talle.

In September Sami will release her new book:

Featuring facts and astonishing illustrations about sixty amazing fast and slow animals, including the super speedy black marlin, the cheetah and the gentoo penguin, and the oh-so-slow dwarf seahorse, the gila monster and the immortal jellyfish.

Here is an interview where Sami Bayly talked about her book 

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Peculiar Pairs.

It made me laugh to once again see that in the US our Australian books have different titles and different covers!

You might also have seen these two books by Sami Bayly. I am sure they will be in many school and public libraries.

The Big Book of Birds by Yuval Zommer

Publisher blurb: Why is a flamingo pink? Can a parrot talk? Is a bald eagle really bald? This follow-up to the hugely successful The Big Book of Bugs, The Big Book of Beasts and The Big Book of the Blue answers these questions and many more. It opens with introductory spreads explaining how to recognize different bird’s eggs, the bird family tree, why different species of birds have different beaks and feathers, and why some birds migrate and travel vast distances every year. Subsequent spreads, illustrated with various habitats, are dedicated to specific varieties of bird, including hummingbirds, peacocks, flamingos, bald eagles, secretary birds, albatrosses and red-crowned cranes. Some will teach children how to spot different birds within a specific variety, for example how to differentiate the American robin from the European robin. Others explore bird habitats, for example showing how birds adapt to live in cities. Finally, the book invites young bird spotters to protect birds where they live and make their gardens bird friendly. This is a big, beautiful book to look at again and again.

Social Media can be useful, distracting and of course it can show you the things you have missed out on. I recently saw that Yuval Zommer has been in Australia and more specifically here in Sydney at an event with Thames and Hudson, his publisher, and even more amazing our own Zeno Sworder was also a speaker/guest at this event. Zeno has a new book due out later this year.  I wonder how people knew to attend? I seem to follow so many authors and publishers on all the Social Media platforms but I did not see this event mentioned until various people shared photos of the event. I will admit I am very jealous of the people who attended.

At a recent charity book sale I spied The Big Book of Birds by Yuval Zommer. This is indeed a 'big' book and this copy is in mint condition so I will gift it to a friend. It only cost AUS$4 and as a bonus on the day I picked it up, the books at the fair were half price. The normal retail price for this book is AUS$30 so I did snaffle a bargain. The Big Book of Birds was published in 2020.

There are tiny details in the design of this book that will delight a young reader. The end papers show birds flying in towards the pages and at the back they are flying away. There is an egg hunt on every page and to read some of the pages you need to turn the book sideways. As with all excellent nonfiction books, this one has a detailed contents list and an index.

The birds in this book are from around the world. I especially love the double spreads about puffins, flamingos, Secretary birds, robins, Great Grey owls and hummingbirds. 

There is just enough information on each page to spark curiosity in your young reading companion aged 6+. I have talked about so many bird books on this blog - just click the word birds in my post label. Kirkus say this book is insubstantial but I think it is a great introduction to a wide range of birds and the illustrations are simply delightful. If a young reader spies a bird that catches their attention there are sure to be plenty of other books that give will give them more details. 

Here are some other splendid books by Yuval Zommer. Notice all the titles have a word starting with the letter 'B'. I think all of these should be added to your school library collection:

Let's Talk Picture books explore his Big Book of Blooms. I am now very keen to see another book from this series - The Big Book of Belonging. You can follow Yuval Zommer on Instagram. His new book due to arrive here in Australia in September is one I really do need to own - it is called Our Islands. I have travelled to lots of special islands - Fair Isle; Mull; Skye; Shetland; Isle de Magdalen (Canada); Nantucket; Martha's Vineyard; Orkney; Jersey; Hern; Sark; and Gurnsey. I am not sure that any of these are included in this book so that means it will give a new list of islands I need to explore. 

The Great Dawn Choir by Sarah Speedie illustrated by Cindy Lane

"The term dawn chorus refers to the collective calls of birds at the start of a new day. ... It usually begins anywhere from 90 to 30 minutes before the sun rises. ... Birdsong and calls can be used to communicate with other birds or to defend territory. That's why the dawn chorus is a mix of raucous squawking and chatty screeches alongside melodic songs or loud territorial calls."

Can you name all the birds on the cover of this book? I have listed them below if you are unsure.

My favourite from my own morning bird choir/chorus are the pairs of birds who sing call and response to one another. I like to think of it as a safety check or their love language. Listen to this one the Common Koel.

Can I suggest you open up this web link which contains the top 40 bird songs of the birds found in our Australian backyards and use it when you read this book for the second time.  It will really add another dimension to this experience for your young students. I would begin with the kookaburra. There ae also detailed notes at the back of The Great Dawn Choir with photographs of each of the eight birds. 

Click on the eight birds featured in this book:

• Australian magpie
• Sulphur-crested cockatoo
• Rainbow lorikeet
• Laughing kookaburra
• Fairy wren
• Australian raven
• Crested pigeon

There is nothing to see in this video (10 minutes) so I would just play it for your library group and let them close their eyes and listen. They might recognise some of these dawn chorus sounds from their own neighborhood. Also in my post about This Bird I mention the ABC Radio National weekly bird sound 'competition' called 'tweet of the week' (link below).

You can see more books illustrated by Cindy Lane here and you can discover other books by Sarah Speedie here. I also found an Instagram post where we see Cindy Lane painting her fairy wren. A couple of days I talked about this book which is also from CSIRO Publishing. 

This Bird

Huge thanks to CSIRO Publishing for sending a review copy of The Dawn Chorus. I'm building up a terrific collection of books about our Australian birds. The Great Dawn Choir will be released in August.

Try to find this book too after you look at the end papers of The Great Dawn Choir which are filled with feathers. This one is not Australian but it is a truly special book:

Birds and their feathers

Here are some other books about birds and their songs:

The Forgotten Song

This is perfect because it also contains onomatopoeia

Magpies in Australia

Have you heard the nesting bird

The Song of the Nightingale

These companion books might be in your school library - I have popped all of them on my own list but please note these are not about Australian birds: