Australia: Country of Colour by Jess Racklyeft

"Australia is the home of vivid red dirt, big blue skies, wild green bushland and warm golden beaches. This very large island has allowed unique, colourful and incredible plants and animals to adapt and grow, many of which can't be found anywhere else in the world."

This is a quote from the opening page of Australia Country of Colour and then there is an extract from the well known poem My Country by Dorothea Mackellar. Here is the famous second verse:

I love a sunburnt country,

A land of sweeping plains,

Of ragged mountain ranges,

Of droughts and flooding rains.

I love her far horizons,

I love her jewel-sea,

Her beauty and her terror –

The wide brown land for me!

There are lots of books, old and new, which explore Australian flora and fauna and also many books for children which explore our major geographical features and landscapes but this one is extra special for several reasons. Using colour as a way to organise all of this material is so appealing and means the book is filled with vibrant illustrations. Every double spread, two for each colour, has room for more than a dozen animals and plants so this book goes way beyond the usual A to Z format with one or two examples per letter. Curious readers are given just the right amount of information for each plant or animal including the scientific name and the white background on every page means every creature or plant just pops out at the reader. It is clear that Jess Racklyeft has done an enormous amount of research for her splendid book and I am sure all included plants and animals will be a jumping off point for many children and classrooms to explore our, as the opening words say, 'incredible' creatures and plants.

Image source: Facebook Jess Mess - Illustrations

Here are the colours and sites and one example of an animal that was new to me:

Red and Pink - Uluru - Mount Kapular Pink Slug

Brown and Orange - Purnululu National Park Western Australia - Leichhardt's grasshopper

Yellow - Mount Kosciuszko National Park - Yellow Chat

Green - Tarra-Bulga National Park - Green Catbird

Blue - The Great Barrier Reef - Dollarbird

Violet and Purple - Bruny Island - Peacock Mantis Shrimp

Black and White and Grey - Kati Thanda or Lake Eyre - Pied Monarch bird

You could use this book as a gift; for a science lesson; as art inspiration - the end papers are scrumptious; or in a geography lesson. 

Here is part of the advertisement for this book from one of our large chain stores:

• The first book to explore Australian animals, plants and landscapes through the lens of the colour wheel.
• Jess Racklyeft has methodically collated some of Australia's best-known, as well as little-known, animals, plants, insects and places and presents them in pleasing colour categories, celebrating the veritable rainbow of colour that is Australia's natural world.
• An enjoyable and accessible way for children to learn more about the plants and animals of Australia.

This book is divine! Surprises come with every page and Jess Racklyeft's artwork as always, is stunning.  Kids' Book Review

Every school library should purchase this book. I am certain this book will be a 2024 Children's Book Council of Australia CBCA Notable title and also a short listed book in the Eve Pownall category.