The Aerimander Chronicles Book 1: The Last Ember by Lily Berlin Dodd

Dragon stories - What do you think of when you hear that term? Journeys; friendship; heroes; saving the last of a species; a special human-dragon connection; bravery; quests; flight; a race against time; the fight of good over evil; battles; and the disproving of myths about dragons. Do any of these resonate with you?

Well in The Last Ember, yes some of this is certainly true, but so much of this book also breaks these traditional story threads.

First off dragon stories can begin with an egg. In The Last Ember there is indeed an egg but it takes a long while for the hero of this story, Eva Alexander, to realise the stone she has discovered, in a department store, is indeed an egg and not a rare mineral called Rubibium which is also a highly unstable explosive. AND the egg does not hatch (spoiler alert) until page 251 Chapter 46.

Clearly this 'stone' has fallen into the wrong hands - Eva's hands. But where did it come from? Why does a powerful man named Eoin Parnassus, Director of Kingdom Secrets want this object? Eva attends the Young Ladies Royal Academy of Science and Mathematics. Her best friend is a girl named Myrnie and both girls excel at science. It is Myrnie (Myrnabelle Wilshins) who first suspects the stone is really an egg and more importantly that it is an aerimander egg. The dragon that could hatch from this will be incredibly dangerous but also the egg itself should never be touched by human hands.

Okay, okay I warned you - do not touch this egg. Of course, Eva does touch it, albeit accidentally, and that sets off another chain of events. I won't go into too much detail but the egg is now bonded to her skin! And remember I told you Parnassus wants this egg. He knows Eva has it and how did it come to be at Bronsworth's Department store? And who killed the courier? 

Now for the next important character in this tale. Dusty is an orphan living at St. Ichabod’s Dairy Production and Home for Delinquent Boys. It is a place of cruelty as you might expect but Dusty has made a friend in the city. Dusty has joined the Thieves Union and so he has been able to steal food and medicine, making his life a little better. One-night members of the Union are called together and told they must find this 'Thing'. Dusty and his friend Cal hatch a plan to steal the thing or stone from Eva's room at the Academy but everything goes horribly wrong and now the egg is firmly attached to Eva's hand and this pair of very unlikely friends are on the run and Cal has been left behind.

This book has almost 340 pages but I read the final 150 pages in one sitting - yes this book is a real page turner. Every chapter ends on a cliff hanger - I usually find this annoying but for this book it worked really well. I feel so lucky to have read this splendid book. It came as a title from one of our Australian standing order services - Pegi Williams in South Australia and my friend, who is a subscriber, loaned me this book to read over January. Little did she know that reading this book would be such a powerful and rewarding reading experience. The chapter voices alternate and every so often an off-stage narrator pops in to add very helpful background details. These are called Interludes (I especially enjoyed Interlude VII). Listen to an audio sample here of the Prologue. Reviewers and the publisher list this book for ages 8 or 9+ but in my view the intensity of the story, the print size, the book length and minor references to drug taking, make this book one I would recommend to mature readers aged at least 10+. The torture scenes are also disturbing. Book One ends with the promise of more adventures. There is a very slight feel of steam punk to this story with the mention of zeps used by the army - I wonder if this idea will be further explored in book 2. 

Read more about Lily Berlin Dodd here.

Dodd’s debut novel is fantasy done right: Fans ... will devour this series opener, thanks to the lush worldbuilding and wry humor permeating every page. And while the story will have readers grinning, it still explores difficult topics like poverty and war with grace and dignity. ... Egg-cellent storytelling; readers will be eager for the second book. Kirkus

Dodd’s writing is incredibly engaging, allowing readers to understand the society and world she has built fully. Her interludes of information serve more as a friend offering insight rather than information loading. In Eva and Dusty she has created two great hero figures who are complex and interesting to spend time with. Even her secondary characters, including Eva’s roommate and Dusty’s best friend, are fully drawn and fascinating. Add in a potential dragon and you have a rollicking book filled with scientist girls, thieving boys and a dangerous government. Waking Brain Cells

Dark, funny, intricate, and exciting, this fast-paced action fantasy debut will thrill upper-middle grade readers who love their stakes high and their humour sharp. Readings Melbourne

Here are a few text quotes:

"The pain was instant. It was as if she had dipped her right hand into a pool of fire. No, not of fire, of molten silver, of boiled gold. It felt like her skin was bubbling, frying, peeling off ..."

"She let herself cry. Very rarely did she allow emotions to overcome her reason. (but) ... she was alone, in the cold and dark, with something dangerous and volatile attached to her skin."

Eoin Parnassus ... "at his core, he was a simply man of pure evil. He believed he was doing the right thing, as most villains do, but he also didn't particularly care one way or another."

"The infant aerimander was no bigger than a newborn kitten and similar in shape. Her legs were short and stubby, her face broad, her eyes enormous. ... On her back were the  most delicate-looking wings ..."

"I will work on you until you are crying blood, until you are kneeling in a puddle of your own fear and begging me to let you speak every worthless little secret you have ever known. Then I will kill you."

Publisher blurb: Aerimanders are extinct. Or so the government would have you think. Centuries ago, the Kingdom of Glaucus decreed the destruction of these dangerous, dragon-like creatures whose deadly flame could level entire cities and upend world orders. But when twelve-year-old Eva Alexander, a wealthy chemistry student in the city of Porttown, walks into a fashionable department store and walks out (accidentally) with the world’s last aerimander egg, everything changes. Suddenly, Eva is the target of unwanted attention—including from the Thieves’ Union, a mysterious organization with a rebellious streak and fingers in every pie in Porttown. The Union orders its youngest member, the orphaned dairy delivery boy Dusty St. Ichabod, to steal the egg from Eva. Which is far easier said than done. 

When Eva and Dusty meet one autumn night under extraordinary circumstances, an epic game of cat and mouse unfolds across the Kingdom. Initially at odds, the unlikely pair must come together to navigate a maze of sinister crime syndicates, elite boarding schools, and an incredibly slow getaway pony named Gourd—all while fighting to keep the egg out of the hands of power-hungry Eoin Parnassus, Director of Kingdom Secrets. As the duo races against time, their fates and that of the whole world are at stake. Because there’s one question no one dares to ask: What happens when the egg hatches?

Companion books:

Impossible Creatures

The Poisoned King

The Ogress and the Orphans

Mulga Bill's Bicycle by PB Paterson illustrated by Kilmeny and Deborah Niland

Last week I shared some Australian books that teachers or Teacher-Librarian could display or read to groups for Australia Day. Our schools here in Australia are always on their summer holidays when this public holiday is celebrated but you could still share the books I mentioned during the first few weeks of the term especially when new classes have not yet been formed. My previous school waited through the first week before forming their classes and this was always a difficult period for the students, keen to meet their new teacher, and the staff who would much prefer to meet their new class having already said goodbye to their previous students at the end of last year.

I realised when I posted about some terrific picture books with an Australian flavour that I had not talked about Mulga Bill's Bicycle here on this blog. I have read this version to many students in Grade 4 - it is good to share poetry by one of our very famous bush poets but as a bonus the story of this poem is so funny. The first steps though need to be an unpackaging of some of the words and phrases. I have added bold to the text of the poem below.

Here are some teaching ideas. I would share the poem, then the book and then you could perhaps use this video (it is not perfect but it is the best one I found).

Banjo Paterson wrote the poem in 1896, a time when cycling was a relatively new and popular activity. It tells the story of Mulga Bill who thinks he will have no problem riding his velocipede, you know, one of those bicycles that has a huge wheel in the front and a teensy weensy one at the back. After a hair-raising ride he crash lands in Dead Man’s Creek and decides that the bicycle “ it’s safe at rest in Dead Man’s Creek – we’ll leave it lying still; A horse’s back is good enough henceforth for Mulga Bill’. Storylinks

Publisher blurb: Mulga Bill's Bicycle was written by Banjo Paterson in 1896. It was written at a time when cycling was a relatively new and popular social activity. Cycles were ridden everywhere, including in the outback by shearers and other workers who needed to travel cheaply. Mulga Bill's Bicycle tells the hilarious story of Mulga Bill, who thinks he's much better at cycling than he turns out to be. A resounding crash sends him back to his original mode of transport - his trusty horse. Kilmeny and Deborah Niland's delightful illustrations catch the mood and humour of Paterson's verse with great spirit, and this book has become an enduring classic.

'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that caught the cycling craze;

He turned away the good old horse that served him many days;

He dressed himself in cycling clothes, resplendent to be seen;

He hurried off to town and bought a shining new machine;

And as he wheeled it through the door, with air of lordly pride,

The grinning shop assistant said, "Excuse me, can you ride?"

"See here, young man," said Mulga Bill, "from Walgett to the sea,

From Conroy's Gap to Castlereagh, there's none can ride like me.

I'm good all round at everything, as everybody knows,

Although I'm not the one to talk; I hate a man that blows.

But riding is my special gift, my chiefest, sole delight;

Just ask a wild duck can it swim, a wildcat can it fight.

There's nothing clothed in hair or hide, or built of flesh or steel,

There's nothing walks or jumps, or runs, on axle, hoof, or wheel,

But what I'll sit, while hide will hold and girths and straps are tight:

I'll ride this here two-wheeled concern right straight away at sight."

'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that sought his own abode,

That perched above the Dead Man's Creek, beside the mountain road.

He turned the cycle down the hill and mounted for the fray,

But ere he'd gone a dozen yards it bolted clean away.

It left the track, and through the trees, just like a silver streak,

It whistled down the awful slope towards the Dead Man's Creek.

It shaved a stump by half an inch, it dodged a big white-box:

The very wallaroos in fright went scrambling up the rocks,

The wombats hiding in their caves dug deeper underground,

As Mulga Bill, as white as chalk, sat tight to every bound.

It struck a stone and gave a spring that cleared a fallen tree,

It raced beside a precipice as close as close could be;

And then as Mulga Bill let out one last despairing shriek

It made a leap of twenty feet into the Dead Man's Creek.

'Twas Mulga Bill from Eaglehawk, that slowly swam ashore:

He said, "I've had some narrer shaves and lively rides before;

I've rode a wild bull round a yard to win a five-pound bet,

But this was the most awful ride that I've encountered yet.

I'll give that two-wheeled outlaw best; It's shaken all my nerve

To feel it whistle through the air and plunge and buck and swerve.

It's safe at rest in Dead Man's Creek, we'll leave it lying still;

A horse's back is good enough henceforth for Mulga Bill."

Image source Bike Ability UK

Dreadful David by Sally Farrell Odgers illustrated by Craig Smith

Look closely at the cover.

David is emptying his Mum's purse all over the street.

This style of bush fence is often a feature of art by Craig Smith

I first read Dreadful David in 1984 in my first school library and decades later the words still resonate with me.

Dreadful David went to stay

With Granny for a while

His mum was glad to leave him there

For David was a trial

...

David

Made a box into a boat and 

Sailed it on the trough

The box was Granny's biscuit box

The biscuits went all soft!

He watered Granny's kitten because it seemed so small

He used up Grandad's shaving cream and overflowed the shower

He found a big new toilet roll and flushed it down the loo

Oh there was nothing horrible that David didn't do

Maybe now the text is not politically correct because Granny does eventually give David a smack on his bottom (but it didn't really hurt) but that part doesn't bother me, after all by this stage he has watered the letters in the letter box; watered the kitten; put flour and shaving cream all over the bathroom floor; and finally he's used the hose on Granny herself. I am sure most kids will just laugh over this final scene and grandparents will nod in recognition. 

Sally Odgers was born in Tasmania in 195. She began writing as a child, and her first book was published in 1977. Since then, she has published more than 400 titles, making her one of Australia's most prolific authors. Sally lives in North-West Tasmania with her husband, dogs, and a cockatoo, and she enjoys activities like walking, reading, and gardening. Sally Odgers was awarded an OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) in the 2026 Australia Day honours. ABC Hobart talked to Sally Odgers [listen from 2.07.35] - [2.17.50]

If you have worked in school libraries for a while you might recognise some of Sally Odger's older titles. I own an original illustration from Drummond. Notice some of the very famous names on these book covers - Kym Gamble; and Kilmeny Niland. I also remember reading Wicked Rose to groups of Grade 5 students when we were exploring Bushrangers.

Sally Odgers also writes the Jack Russell: Dog Detective and Pet Vet series.  Trove list 395 book titles here.

Sally's favourites among her own books include the Bandinangi Books (which continue to generate enthusiastic mail from primary school readers), Amy Amaryllis, Shadowdancers, Aurora and Trinity Street. Other books she particularly enjoyed writing include Timedetectors, Theft in Time, CD and the Giant Cat and Tasmania: A Guide (all co-written with Darrel), a picture book called Bunyips Don't and two romances for adults, both published under the pseudonym Tegan James. Shadowdancers and Aurora were both shortlisted for the 3M Talking Book Awards, Looking Out for Sam was commended in the Christian Children's Book of the Year Awards and both Amy Amaryllis and The Follow Dog have been Children's Book Council Notable Books.

The illustrations in this book showcase the work of Craig Smith and they are fabulous. If you cannot find Dreadful David look at the pages in The Wobbly Bike which have a similar setting and feel.

The Wobbly Bike

My Dog's a Scaredy-cat

Australia’s best children’s picture book poll - vote now The Guardian Australia Part Three

Read about this here The Guardian Australia

This is my THIRD post about this, in my view, crazy project by The Guardian Australia. I talked about this on 28th November 2025 (some won't like my suggestions, but I didn't submit any as I totally forgot to do this) and I talked about it all again on 16th December 2025.

Yesterday I watched a video by one commentator filled with passion about the short comings of the book choices and this poll BUT once again I think everyone is missing a couple of crucial details. The post on Instagram has had 77 comments - this is a drop in the ocean of course in terms of people who might be interested enough to vote in this poll but many of the comments either amazed or enraged me. Who is this Instagrammer - her name is Shannon Wong-Nizic and she has 41.2K followers! 

Firstly, please go back and read the CRITERIA - again this is just my view - but the criteria are crazy and so many of the books suggested by readers of The Guardian Australia do not meet these stated 'rules'. One of the eliminated titles (as of today) has a famous UK illustrator - Helen Oxenbury.

To be eligible a book must be -

• Primarily intended to be read aloud to children who don’t yet read independently;
• Able to be read in a few minutes – we’re looking for a child’s picture book, rather than a graphic novel or illustrated chapter book;
• Written by an Australian (or someone we’ve claimed);
• Published in Australia.

Secondly - YES I am very happy to so any discussion about children's books and especially picture books but the notion of a winner fills me with despair and dread - in fact I think I am fairly sure I can predict the 'winner' quite easily.

Thirdly - barracking from the side lines. I guess this is okay - authors and illustrators begging people who follow them to vote for their book but only if the book does fit in with the criteria - especially the criteria able to be read in a few minutes to a child who does not yet read independently (which I have set as a child aged up to 6).

Fourthly - there were rules that should have been added but were left out - Should the book be in print? Should there be a date range so that older 'classics' that others are claiming are already famous (meaning those creators do not need book sales) might be eliminated or ineligible.

Fifth - should we talk about the sponsor of this 'competition'?  It is a bookshop and it is a bookshop I really like but is this okay? Also, I think it is possible to vote more than once each day - the ethics of this worry me too. 

My sixth point is WHY is this online newspaper doing this? I might be wrong but I am guessing this same poll idea was probably run in the UK and perhaps USA. I need a lot more transparency - who suggested the original books on the list? Did this 'paper' approach anyone with any level of authority about this important topic? Why haven't they reiterated their criteria? - Yes I am back on that hobby horse again.

Finally what will happen when this is over? I surmise nothing will happen. In a week or two it will all be forgotten or maybe an opportunistic publisher will make a bright book sticker that declares their book was the lucky winner. Will they ever run this again? Probably not because why bother? The book list of titles to vote for probably won't change very much and it will not surprise me if the same book wins again.

Here are some points made by Shannon on her Instagram video and my comments - under headings of positive and negative - but I still think she has missed a key issue - yes I am going to say it for the third time in this post - go back to the criteria.

GOOD

• The BEST thing about a poll like this, is that it gets us talking about books and reading.

BAD

• An inherent flaw in a list like this, is that obviously most of us haven’t read every book on the list.

(There were only two I hadn't read of the fifty)

• It’s absolutely fine to vote for a book published in 1983. But in my heart of hearts, I hope that you’ve also read a whole heap of new children’s releases and been regularly visiting bookshops and libraries and reading a diverse range of picture books to young readers since then.

(I agree but this is a fault of the silly way this has been set up not a fault of the audience)

• Also, I LOVE Pamela Allen books as much as the next Kindy teacher, but 3 books on the list feels like overkill. Also, isn’t she technically a Kiwi? Are we just claiming her as our own now? How very Australian of us.

(I agree about this point and I raised the issue of multiple titles by one author in my first blog post - also yes Pamela Allen in my view is from New Zealand)

• Feel the nostalgia but think about the modern Aussie kid.

(The nostalgia has arisen because there were no rules about this and also who suggested these titles - parents, grandparents etc).

Here are a few of the comments made to Shannon that resonated with me:

• I'm not sure the selection process for the starting list but I wish the list was not so narrow to begin with.
• Great to be talking books, but there are so many brilliant books and creators not getting the fanfare they deserve.
• Wow just checked out the list and there are far too many classics. I think we know the demographic of The Guardian's readers.

Here are the first twenty books that have been eliminated - each day five books with the lowest votes is removed from the voting list.

Am I upset about any of these? 

No - The Rabbits by John Marsden and Fox by Margaret Wild are both books for readers aged 10+ 

I love Whistle up the Chimney but it is way too old and of little appeal to modern children.

Tomorrow I expect John Brown, Rose and the Midnight cat will be cut - and that is okay with me - I adore this book but it is not designed for very young readers.

Many, though not all, of the eliminated books you can see in the image above were never intended for  very young children.

My predictions for the 'winner' (but note I strongly dislike this idea of a winner and of losers) are Magic Beach (even though it really doesn't have an actual narrative but is a set of linked scenes) or Where is the Green Sheep which is more of a concept book for toddlers. The other main condender based on Monday with three days to go is Animalia - this is absolutely NOT a book that you can read in five minutes and really the visual clues will be much better appreciated by children older than age 6. I hope I am wrong!

The Magpie Riddle: A Goldfish Boy Mystery by Lisa Thompson

Melody and her mum live in a Chestnut Close. The houses form a semi circle and so naturally everyone knows everyone. Near the street there is a old graveyard and Melody likes to wander through with her dog Frankie. Melody has one friend in the street - a boy called Matthew. We met him in the first book. Jake also lives in Chestnut Close but he speaks very bluntly to Melody and he almost feels like a bully at times. He also seems to be taking Matthew away from Melody. Then Melody meets Hal. Hal is a boy with a strange story. He is living in an old abandoned house at the back of the graveyard. He tells Melody he works for a spy agency and that he is reporting on the activities of a jewelry thief. Some of his story seems quite impossible but Hal persuades Melody that he does work for MI8 and he enlists her help to decode mysterious riddles that are left in the graveyard.

Melody, herself, has her own life problems. Her father left the family some time ago in awful circumstances. Now mum is trying to sell their house. Melody misses Matthew too.

A neighbor decides everyone should help to clear up some weeds in the graveyard but Melody is worried the adults will find Hal. She needs to call on Matthew and also Jake to help her move Hal into an empty house in Chestnut Close. But Mr Charles has the only key and Mr Charles also seems to be holding onto a letter from Melody's dad. 

Blurb from author page: Melody Bird has discovered an old, abandoned house in the corner of the graveyard, and a mysterious boy called Hal who is hiding out there… Hal tells her that he’s a spy-in-training, using the house as a base for his undercover surveillance of a known local criminal. Her friends Matthew and Jake don’t believe that a teenager would be entrusted with this mission and turn the tables to spy on him, uncovering secrets and unravelling a mystery as they go.

In the US this book has a different cover and title:

Take a look at the Kirkus review

I confess I wrecked my own reading of this book by, early into the reading experience, jumping to the final pages to preview the ending. My reaction to this book is less positive than the first installment. There were a few too many 'issues' and the idea (spoiler alert) that a child could be totally hidden from the system seems a little too farfetched. If this was at all possible I needed Hal to be more confused about 'real life' and also I did worry that he was not getting enough food! My labels on this post will give you some idea of the 'issues' faced by the main characters.

When I spotted this book I recognised the series - The Goldfish Boy. Here is my previous post:

The Goldfish Boy

Kirkus Star review

Here is the third book in the series and I think Lisa Thompson has a plan for a fourth title:

Blurb: When a skeleton is found buried in an elderly neighbour’s garden, Matthew, Melody and Jake are determined to discover its identity and who was responsible for its death. At the same time, the long-lost son of the neighbour arrives, with his young son in tow. But are the pair really who they are claiming to be – or are they imposters? As the kids investigate, they uncover incredible secrets and a plot to stash some priceless jewels on the Close…

Here is the webpage for Lisa Thompson. I do think this series have very appealing covers. 

Ava's Poppy by Marcus Pfister

Ava's Poppy was published in 2012 but it is a new discovery for me - that is why I LOVE libraries. This is a simple story about a little girl who finds and loves a beautiful red poppy flower. She cares for it tenderly and carefully. Sadly, the flower does eventually die. But do not despair because the power of nature means that spring comes again and a new flower emerges. Make sure you take time to compare the front and back end papers. 

Bookseller blurb: Ava is delighted when she discovers a brilliant red poppy in the middle of her yard.

She sits with the little flower in the sunny days of summer and shields it from the rain, until one day the petals start to drop and the tiny flower fades away. But when spring comes again... Ava is surprised anew.

Though this could be a sad story, the author finds a way to end the tale on a high note that is full of hope. Through the Looking Glass

The art in this book really stands out. It is quite different from other books by the well-known illustrator Marcus Pfister (Rainbow Fish). The original title is Lisas Mohnblume.

Here is part of the Publisher's Weekly book review of Ava's Poppy:

"Employing a gentle tone, Pfister encapsulates the circle of life in this sweetly simple story about a girl’s fondness for a flower. When ginger-haired Ava spies a bright red poppy in the field near her home one summer day, she recognizes it as both a thing of beauty and a new friend. Weeks pass, and faithful Ava “looked after her friend with tender loving care,” protecting it from the wind, shielding it from rain, and watering it. The flower eventually turns brown and withers, and Ava marks the sad occasion by burying the plant and arranging a ring of memorial stones in the poppy’s special spot. The subsequent spring brings with it a welcome new friend where the old one used to be, as readers will likely guess."

If you want to read a different perspective on this book take a look at the Kirkus review.

Marcus Pfister was born in Bern, Switzerland. After studying at the Art School of Bern, he apprenticed as a graphic designer and worked in an advertising agency before becoming self-employed in 1984. His debut picture book, The Sleepy Owl, was published by North South in 1986, but his big breakthrough came 6 years later with The Rainbow Fish. Marcus illustrated over 50 books, which have been translated into more than 50 languages and received countless international awards.

Koala Lou by Mem Fox illustrated by Pamela Lofts

"There was once a baby koala so soft and round that all her saw her loved her. 

Her name was Koala Lou."

One hundred times a day her mother would say 'Koala Lou, I DO love you!'. But over time more babies arrive and Koala Lou's mother becomes very busy. She no longer stops to say 'I do love you' although of course she did. Koala Lou wants her mother to hug her again so she decides to enter the Bush Olympics. If she can win then her mother will surely say 'I do love you' once again. 

"It was Koala Klaws who went first. Her climb was a record-breaking twenty-two metres in seventy seconds flat. The spectators whistled and cheered and wildly waved their holiday hats."

Now it is time for Koala Lou. 

"But she wasn't fast enough. In spite of all her training and all her hoping, it was Koala Klaws who won the gum-tree climbing. Koala Lou came second. Koala Lou went off and hid. She heard the shouts of the Bush Olympics and cried her heart out."

I think you will be able to guess how this story ends - with those all important words - Koala Lou I DO love you. Yes - that is the illustration on the cover - it comes right at the end of the book.

This book is a perfect ambassador for Australia - on this page you can see our Flannel Flowers and Kangaroo Paws (flowers) and animals in the story include the platypus, emu and in the illustrations you will spy a quoll, bilby, numbat, possum, Tasmania devil, and a galah.

Bookseller blurb: There was once a baby koala, so soft and round that all who saw her loved her. Her name was Koala Lou. Koala Lou is the first born in a large family. She feels sad because her mother seems too busy to pay her any attention. Perhaps if she wins the tree-climbing at the Bush Olympics her mother might notice her again . . . Koala Lou starts her training right away!

Mem Fox talks about writing this book here. She says: A grueling two years and 49 drafts later, the final 585 words of Koala Lou were published ...  You can see a full set of books by Mem Fox here. 

There are quite a few videos of Koala Lou - if you need to 'read' the book this way try to find one with an Australian voice. The toy of Koala Lou is no longer available.

A few days ago, I listed some books you could share with your child or in your library about Australia perhaps for Australia Day (26th January) and one I mentioned was Koala Lou. This means I discovered I had not talked about this book which is such fun to read aloud.

In 2023 Koala Lou (1988) was 35 years old and a special anniversary edition was released:

And here is the US cover:

Pamela Lofts (1949-2012) is also famous for Wombat Stew, Hunwick's Egg and Sail Away: The Ballad of Skip and Nell.

Blurb: The dingo pair set out to sea - their hearts were beating fast. Their boat was but a redgum log with neither sail nor mast. Follow intrepid adventurers, Skip and Nell, as they travel round Australia 

on their way to that boat race way out west.