The Little Hummingbird by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas

The hummingbird parable, with origins in the Quechuan people of South America, 

has become a talisman for environmentalists and activists who are committed to making meaningful change in the world. In this inspiring story, the determined hummingbird does everything she can to put out a raging fire that threatens her forest home. 

The hummingbird—symbol of wisdom and courage—

demonstrates that doing something is better than doing nothing at all.

"Here is the story of the great forest that caught on fire. The terrible fire raged and burned. All of the animals were afraid and fled from their homes. The elephant and the tiger ran. The beaver scurried and the frog leapt away. Above them the birds flew in a panic. The creatures huddled at the edge of the forest and watched. All except one."

The one is the little hummingbird. She picks up water, one drop at a time, and flies back and forth to the fire. One drop at a time. The other animals watch on convinced there is nothing they can do. The hummingbird tells them:

"I am doing what I can."

The after word for The Little Hummingbird is by Wangari Maathai - here are two books for children about her work:

The Little Hummingbird is a revised edition of a previous title: the award-winning Flight of the Hummingbird (2008) which had 64 pages (see the image at the bottom of this post). You can watch a two-minute animation of the story here. Do watch this it is fantastic. 

Bookseller blurb: This inspiring children's book is based on a South American indigenous story about a courageous hummingbird who defies fear and expectations in her attempt to save the forest from fire. The illustrated story is supplemented by a natural and cultural history of hummingbirds, as well as an inspiring message from Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai. The evocative artwork by internationally renowned Haida artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas complements this optimistic tale that encourages everyone to take responsibility for their home and the planet.

I said this very recently - even if I live a hundred more lifetimes I will never reach the end of new and old book discoveries especially those that reside in the library where I work as a volunteer. The Little Hummingbird seems like a fairly obscure book - published in Canada in 2010 and based on an indigenous folktale from South America. Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas is a Canadian visual artist with a very distinct style called Haida Manga. I am so pleased to have discovered this book but at the same time it reinforces my thought that there are SO many other fabulous books 'out there' that I may never discover. New copies of The Little Hummingbird do seem to still be available from several online sellers. 

Here is an example of the art style found in The Little Hummingbird:

“Haida manga,” a somewhat incongruous term, describes a hybrid form of visual expression where the artist not only celebrates Haida cultural memory and merges it with Asian brush techniques, but also engages with the challenges facing all modern societies: conflict, war, the impact of human activity on the environment, climate change and intercultural relations. Yahgulanaas brings to manga a visual and stylistic technique belonging to the cultures of the Pacific Northwest coast: the formline, or figurative line. The formline is a winding line painted in black that swells and contracts, outlining the contours of the picture’s subject. Read more here.

Here is a simpler explanation: Haida manga is a cool and unique art style that mixes traditional art from the Haida people with modern Japanese manga comics. It's like a blend of old and new, bringing together amazing stories and designs from the North Pacific region with the exciting look of Japanese comics. Haida manga has become popular in many countries, including Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Macao, France, and Canada.

This story has also been performed as an opera in Vancouver - perhaps that is how the Teacher-Librarian in the school in Sydney, Australia discovered this book? Here is the original version:

The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla

I thought my summer would be safe. 

That I’d left all my troubles behind in Texas. 

But maybe troubles trail along with me like sparks along a fuse. 

Maybe I’m the trouble. 

Bad luck all the way around. 

What if there is no safe place for me to be?

Maudie spends term time with her mum and dangerous step father and holidays with her dad in a different part of the US. Her time with her dad is joyous and calm but just as she arrives a wildfire breaks out, her dad's cabin is burnt to the ground and so Maudie and her dad are forced to move to a caravan part at the beach in California. The park is in the area where her dad grew up. Dad finds it hard to get work which means money and food are scarce but Maudie discovers she can surf. At the end of summer this town hosts a famous surfing competition and one category is beginner. The prize money would certainly help Maudie's dad - so now she has a goal - to win!

Maudie has a very dysfunctional mother (and as a said a dangerous and abusive step father). Her mother is all about fame and appearances. She tolerates her but it is so clear that she wishes Maudie could change into the perfect daughter she imagined. Her mother fancies herself as a star of social media. 

I remember once Mom told her viewers, “Imagine if your only child refuses to give you so much as a hug,” which was a lie. Mrs. Jills, my therapist, trained me up to hug. So I’ll do it. But Mom told the camera: “Having a child like Maudie? I confess, while I love her dearly, sometimes it feels like God is testing me.” Well, I sort of think maybe God is testing me, too. The year I was ten, Mom put lots of blush on my pale cheeks so I would look healthier and made me come on her show with her. She said to the camera, “Maudie’s growing up so much! We hardly ever have to deal with her meltdowns or tantrums anymore. She’s so much more under control!” Then she grabbed my hand and swung it up, as if we’d won a race. Which was weird.

Obeying Mom was my job. Obeying Mom. Obeying Mrs. Jills. And now, I guess, obeying Ron.

A perceptive, poignant tale of self-discovery. Kirkus

I like the use of the word perceptive in the Kirkus review final sentence. Maudie does have autism but she is also deeply self-aware and this helps the reader gain a deeper insight into her reactions to other people and to the changes in her life. One thing you will quickly notice is that the autism makes Maudie hyper aware of smells and sounds. 

The Australian distributor has the first five chapters of The Fire, the Water and Maudie McGinn on their webpage. One of the great features of this book for readers is that while there are 72 chapters each chapter is only a page or two. This book is also a hybrid with verse novel sections interspersed between the narrative pages.

Here are a few text quotes:

I hate it when Mom calls Dad a lump of clay. If that’s what he is, then Mom’s a beautiful shard of glass: so pretty, you forget about her sharp, jagged edges. I’d rather be clay, like Dad. If you’re clay, you can mold and adapt to the new. And that’s what I always do. Mold myself into this or that kind of kid. Adapt. For teachers, for Mom, for Mrs. Jills, for Ron, for the other kids at school . . . I try hard to be the right kind of Maudie for each situation, for each thing. I’ve always felt sort of ashamed of this, but maybe it’s also a skill. To remold, instead of shatter. So yeah, there may be different versions of me for different times and different people, but they’re all made from the same clay of me.

I remember Ron swearing and swooping me off the step. Don’t remember much of anything else. Just a sort of tornado of rage. His hands grabbing my arms. His blood-red face. And I remember feeling like I deserved it all. That I was a dirty, broken kid. Not a nice, capable, normal kid. That’s why my mom had to hide herself, close herself off from me. She was ashamed of me. She had given up on me. That’s why we needed Ron, I guess. Because I was too much trouble for Mom to handle alone. I was too big a disappointment.

About why Dad and I understand each other so well and have a special bond. He hyperfocuses on woodworking, I hyperfocus on reading or writing or surfing. Dad gets overwhelmed sometimes, and so do I. He has a scatter-brain about some things, and a hyperorderly brain about other things. So do I. And we both are deeply uncomfortable around new people and new situations. . . . My insides are all squiggly with strange new feelings. I’m a little irritated, to tell the truth. I wish Dad had talked more to me about this before now. It would have helped me to feel less alone.

If I still worked in my former school library I would be very keen to share this book with Grade Six students because that school was located beside the beach and many of the students were keen surfers. In The Fire, the water and Maudie McGinn, Maudie learns to surf, displays some talent, and she is mentored by a surfing champion. Every surfing scene felt so authentic.

Before I know it, I’ve paddled out past the break, my arms pumping like machines. It’s choppy out here, but I turn and watch the horizon, watch the sets, and I find my waves. I pounce on everything I can possibly ride. I feel supercharged, like I’m in some kind of high-energy trance. I fall a few times, but I definitely get in a few good runs, too.

Awards:

• American Library Association Schneider Family Book Award
• Children’s Literature Council of SoCal Juvenile Fiction Award
• Publishers Weekly Starred Review
• NY Public Library Best Book
• Bank Street Best Book (starred for outstanding merit)
• Cybils Awards Finalist
• Oklahoma Sequoyah Award Finalist
• Alabama Yellowhammer Award – Honor Book
• 2024 Dog-Eared Book Award Winner
• “Reading MG” Top 15 Books of the Year
• Imagination Soup Best Books of the Year
• Mr. Colby Sharp’s Best Books of the Year

Bookseller blurb: Maudie always looks forward to the summers she spends in California with her dad. But this year, she must keep a troubling secret about her home life—one that her mom warned her never to tell. Maudie wants to confide in her dad about her stepdad's anger, but she’s scared. When a wildfire strikes, Maudie and her dad are forced to evacuate to the beach town where he grew up. It’s another turbulent wave of change. But now, every morning, from their camper, Maudie can see surfers bobbing in the water. She desperately wants to learn, but could she ever be brave enough? As Maudie navigates unfamiliar waters, she makes friends—and her autism no longer feels like the big deal her mom makes it out to be. But her secret is still threatening to sink her. Will Maudie find the strength to reveal the awful truth—and maybe even find some way to stay with Dad—before summer is over?

Read this detailed review from Ms Yingling. And here is an audio interview with the author.

Here is a quote from the interview:

I wanted it to be a book of hope and overcoming and realizing how important it is to speak out. And I guess maybe that’s partly from my own. I got diagnosed on the autism spectrum as an adult, and it took me a while to be able to speak out about it myself. And once I was able to talk about all the failures and the struggles of my past and what brought me to this point and all that stuff, it’s just so healthy to be able to talk about that, just to be open.

Given the physical and verbal abuse Ron has apparently dished out regularly, being trashed by waves is kid’s play for Maudie. It sure feels like Maudie has found her passion, and it is easy to imagine her and Dad together full-time, living in this great coastside town. Could that ever really happen? You can’t help wondering and hoping for a big break for Maudie and Dad (and a few broken bones for Ron). A Book and a hug

I picked up The Fire, the Water and Maudie McGinn because I previously really enjoyed this book by Sally J Pla:

The Someday Birds

The Peach King by Inga Simpson illustrated by Tannya Harricks

"It was Little Peach who found their voice. Sing! Everyone sing! We all know the song!

Together the peach trees sang until they turned the wind around ... "

Little Peach Tree is a sapling in a vast orchard. They look up to the Peach King – a majestic tree standing proudly at the hill’s crown. Through the turning of seasons Little Peach Tree and the others in the grove sprout blossoms, fruit, then leaves and finally these leaves are blown away and the trees shiver through the colder winter months. Conditions are changing, though, and the people have to bring water to their precious trees. Just as the peaches are almost ready to harvest, a bushfire springs up and so all the fruits need to be gathered early. Meanwhile the Peach King stands to protect the orchard but there is nothing he can do to stop the fire.

"The Peach King leaned into the fire, spreading his branches wide - like a shield. The heat was fierce, his leaves shrivelled and crisped ... the Peach King was alight. Flames licked along his blackened branches, up into his crown."

Harricks’ sweeping, textured artwork deepens the sense of both beauty and impending loss. At the heart of this tale is courage: the Peach King’s sacrifice to shield the orchard and Little Peach Tree’s discovery of its own strength. Arts Review

Here are some other review comments.

Themes of stewardship and resilience are evident throughout, as well as an opportunity for research into the actual natural processes of renewal for certain types of trees after a fire. The fable echoes a long history of stories about youngsters rising to heroic royal ranks, whilst being distinctly Australian in its depiction of the flora and fauna, and the scourge of bush fires. The use of the peach seems to unite these narrative elements – like a nod to European fairytales as well as Australian farming. Storylinks

Check out the details of our IBBY art auction - we have two pieces of art from The Peach King - you could own a very special illustration from this new Australian Picture book. (see bottom of this post).

In many parts of the world (including Australia) we are feeling the devastating effects of climate change. Drought, bushfires and wild storms. These conditions are especially difficult for the people who grow our food. In this book the focus is a peach orchid. It is summer in Australia from December onwards and this is when we all enjoy delicious stone fruits like peaches, apricots, plums, nectarines and cherries. The Peach King is a fable but if you share this book with a group of readers in your library aged 9+ I would begin by talking about peach trees - and make sure you stop and look at the peach-filled end papers in The Peach King. You could also talk about tree life cycles and deciduous trees.

• Peach trees typically start producing fruit within three to four years after planting, depending on various factors such as variety and care.
• Factors influencing production include the type of peach tree, climate conditions, and overall maintenance practices, such as watering and fertilization.
• Younger peach trees may yield limited fruit, while mature trees (four to twelve years old) can produce significantly higher amounts, reaching up to 65kg annually.
• Regular pruning and fertilizing are crucial for maximizing fruit quality and tree health, especially during the early years of growth.
• Peach trees have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years, providing fruitful harvests if maintained properly throughout their life.

Publisher blurb (Lothian): When Little Peach Tree was just a sapling, all they could see was row upon row of other peach trees. And, on top of the hill, watching over the orchard - the Peach King. As seasons pass, bringing cycles of change, Little Peach Tree grows and grows. But darker changes are stirring. Soon rain is scarce, the forests turn brown, animals flee and the sky turns red. To protect the orchard, the Peach King faces grave danger and Little Peach Tree must find their voice.

Here are the teachers resources. It is also important to share the end note from this book where we read that Inga Simpson lived through the terrible bushfires of 2019-2020 and she did purchase a box of Araluen peaches which she later learnt were indeed picked just ahead of the fire.

"Spring came with a rush. Sap surging, buds budding, growing in spurts. The older trees seemed sooo slow to Little Peach, whose limbs were buried in blossom, like a coat of tiny roses."

 

The teacher's notes mention this book - I am very keen to read it:

This is not exactly related but I recently read this wonderful Middle Grade novel which featured a peach tree.

The Peach Thief

Here is a video on Instagram of Tannya Harricks painting the peach tree. And you can hear a reading of this book here.

Tannya Harricks has two beautiful original art works in our IBBY Mini Masterpiece art auction which begins this week! And both are from her new book The Peach King.

I am a HUGE fan of Tannya Harricks illustrations and art. Here are some of her books I have previously explored here:

Mallee Sky

Kookaburra

Night Watch

Inga Simpson is an Australian novelist and nature writer. She began her career as a professional writer for government before gaining a PhD in creative writing. In 2011, she took part in the Queensland Writers Centre Manuscript Development Program and, as a result, Hachette Australia published her first novel, Mr Wigg, in 2013. Inga has since gained a second PhD, in English literature, which examined the history of Australian nature writing. Her most recent adult title is The Thinning (2024: Hachette Australia | June 2025: Little Brown, UK) and her previous children's title is The Book of Australian Trees, illustrated by Alicia Rogerson (2021: Lothian). The Peach Tree story is mentioned in her adult novel Mr Wigg.

Bear to the rescue by Romane Cristescu and Nic Gill illustrated by Sylvia Morris

During Australia's 2019-2020 wildfire season, Bear used his skills to sniff out over 100 live koalas stuck in scorched areas and in need of rescue. Because of Bear, these koalas were able to get the medical care they desperately needed to recover from burns, malnourishment, and dehydration.

One of the most special things about Australia that sets us apart from other countries is our unique wildlife such as the platypus; kangaroo; wombat and of course the koala. I had Canadian visitor years ago and all she wanted to do on our long, long drive from Sydney in NSW to Port Stephens in Queensland was to see a koala - alas this did not happen. In fact, I have lived here all my life, and I have never seen one in the wild but in the 1950s they were seen in the playground of my former school - how amazing. While we do have some fantastic animals here, we also have the devastation of bushfires and since koalas live in trees, bushfires are one of the worst things that can happen to their habitat. I had no idea, though, that dogs were used to find stranded koalas so that wildlife workers could rescue and save them.

It is a little cheeky that the name of the dog in this true story is 'Bear' because the koala is not a bear. Luckily this crazy puppy finds his purpose and after some special training he quickly learns to identify the smell of a koala.

"Now I wasn't looking for koalas to study them. I had to find them to save them! This wasn't like working in the forests at home. The air dried my nose and stung my eyes. I wore special boots to protect my paws."

You could share this book with your youngest students who I know love to read and hear true stories about animal heroes. Here is an extensive Pinterest of picture books with true animal stories including many that feature dogs. This could be an interesting mini topic to explore with your library group or class. Here is a link to the teachers notes. Read more about Bear here. The Bottom Shelf blog also has more information about Bear and a short video you could use in your library. 

As I mentioned this book is based on the work of a real dog named Bear - he is an Australia Koolie. Bear worked during the 2019-2020 megafires. He has received two awards - Animal Welfare Animal Action Award (2021) and Puppy Tales Australia Dog of the Year Awards medal (2025).

Unlike most dogs trained to detect koala scats, Bear’s exceptional skills allow him to find live koalas resting high in trees. Over the years, Bear has saved over 100 koalas, playing a vital role in search and rescue missions during bushfires, vehicle strikes, and disease outbreaks. 

His work has been pivotal in efforts like Black Summer, where every koala he saved made a tangible difference to endangered populations.

"We think Bear really deserved this award because he's been such a good boy in helping us find and rescue a lot of koalas, especially during the bushfires, but he works throughout the year to help us in our job to make a better and safer place for koalas. We'll give Bear extra pats and extra play for his award," Bear's handler, Dr. Romane Cristescu of the University of the Sunshine Coast, said in a statement.

Thanks to CSIRO Publishing for sending me a review copy of Bear to the Rescue.

Dr Romane Cristescu trained as a vet before studying koala genetics. She is the Director of the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Detection Dogs for Conservation, and the trainer/handler/manager of dogs, including Bear, who specialise in finding animals and their poo.

Nic Gill loves to share stories about nature, humans and other animals. After meeting Romane and her dogs, she was so impressed that she became a conservation dog handler herself and now works with her detection dogs in the Tasmanian wilds.

Sylvia Morris is an illustrator and science enthusiast. She loves illustrating picture books because it combines two of her favourite activities: reading and problem solving.

Promises and Other Lies by Sue Whiting

"The fire razed much of the town, destroying seventy-plus homes, five businesses, the surf club, the CWA hall and much of the caravan park, and sadly caused the tragic death of volunteer firefighter Jack Robson ... "

Publisher blurb: One year on from a devastating bushfire, the small coastal town of Wangaroo Bay is still reeling. Fletch’s family lost their home, and his best friend Immie lost her beloved dad, a volunteer firefighter. Throughout it all, Fletch and Immie have had each other … Immie’s grandparents push for the Operation Bayfire investigation to be reopened, but Fletch’s mum, dad and elder brother Cooper want to put the past behind them. And when a local, one of their own, is charged with arson, emotions flare, sides are taken and promises – and secrets – are at stake.

We live in a time when everything is fast paced. The internet has made us slaves to the skim and scan of a text probably without even realising that's what we are doing. But I have to say that approach will not work with this book. Readers aged 11+ will need patience and reading stamina to reap the rewards of this 'who done it' mystery. Sue Whiting does NOT spell everything out for her readers, and I really appreciated this. She expects her readers to work hard. You have to put the pieces together - pieces about each character and about the events of the present and past. Who is telling the truth?

Having said that about the pieces, though, I did at times wish for two things - a character list and even better I wish there was a map of this small south coast town - I do know it is fictional.

Here is an example to explain what I mean about picking up fragments of information and waiting to discover what they are (although this example is not vital to the plot). I do not live near the scene of the dreadful bushfires we had here in Australia in recent years. The bushfire in this book, set on the south coast of NSW, wipes out nearly every house. Early in the story Sue Whiting refers to pods. I had no idea what these were, but I assumed they could be or must be temporary housing. By the end of the story my ideas were confirmed and as I said this isn't an important plot point but it is an example of the way Sue Whiting expects her readers to fill in the gaps for themselves. Another example is Brown's Cows Circus School run by Fetch's mum assisted by Marie - we really don't know much about this but when Immie feels able to join in at the final festival in her cow costume and on stilts we know she is well on the way to healing some of the pain she's been feeling since the loss of her dad. 

Here is a text quote to give you a flavour of the writing in this book:

"Immie's hot. She's tired. She's grumpy. And she's late. A local? She still can't believe it, can't stop thinking about it. Every time she closed her eyes last night, a long noisy freight train loaded with question after question rattled through her brain, one alarming question pulling the next one behind it. Could it really e someone in Wangaroo Bay who started the fire? ... And why come forward now?"

The collective trauma of the town reverberates off the page, and shows how trauma, tragedy, and a desire for justice can impact a community and individuals. It also explores the lengths one person will go to so they can frame someone just to get what they want. To make sure they’re not caught. Everyone in this novel has secrets, makes promises, and lies for different reasons. They all want to protect family and friends, and slowly, things will come out. Things will explode and come to a head as the novel moves along, where the past and present start to collide through the different perspectives used in the novel to build the tension and deliver the clues to the mystery at the heart of the novel. The Book Muse

It so easily could be true which makes it even more gripping. And with the emphasis on truth-telling, relationships, community, and grief it will have a wide appeal. I particularly also enjoyed the references to climate change, and the fire prevention practices of our First Nations people. Although suggested for 10 years upwards, I would suggest it is most suitable for your more mature readers who will be better equipped to absorb the themes and concepts. Just so Stories

When you recommend this book or talk to a group of students tell them to be patient (I already mentioned this) because the action doesn't really 'heat up' (pardon the pun) until chapter 31 and page 242 but please know this is not a weakness it just means the rewards of reading this gripping story come thick and fast in the final five chapters. 

Spoiler alert: I wish I had taken more notice of this description of Marie: "with spiky purple hair, floral tattoos ... and thick bands of purple and green woven bracelets at her wrists."

I wonder if Sue Whiting ever wrote for television - this book just feels so cinematic - my brain kept flashing back to the television series Fires (2021) and YES this book is just as gripping as that was.

Character list:

• Immie Robson - it is her dad Jack who died in the fires and her mum died in a car accident many years ago. She has a special relationship with Bertie (the camel)
• Fletch - best friend to Immie
• Mary Feng and Frank Khoo - grandparents to Immie and Jack's in-laws. Immie calls them Ama and Akong.
• Aunty Bree - sister of Jack now living in a caravan behind Ama and Akong's house. Her son is crazy about dinosaurs and his name is Coby and he is five years old
• Marie Holden - new in town but a hero because she saved several houses during the fire and now she runs a podcast where she interviews the local residents
• Cooper Jones - older brother to Fletch 
• Gilmore and Penny O'Carolan parents of Fletch. Gilmore is a member of the local volunteer fire brigade. 
• Old Gus owner of Bertie the camel
• Jason Jones - father of Copper and currently in jail 

Here is a Q and A with Sue whiting about her book. I am sure Promises and Other Lies will be a 2026 CBCA notable title.

Things I enjoyed about this book:

• The alternating viewpoints between Fletch and Immie
• The flashback scenes where we read about the impact of the fire as it is happening
• The surfing scenes - Sue Whiting must be a surfer - these sure do feel very real
• The tension waiting to find the anonymous person and informer and also waiting to discover the secret Fletch has been holding onto for a whole year
• The portrayal of the people in the town - the kind ones, the suspicious ones, the angry ones and that sweet little man who owns the camel named Bertie
• The way Bertie kept escaping (this reminded me of Too Small to Fail by Morris Gleitzman)
• The tag line of Fletch and Immie "Holy moly poly. Who would have thunk it?"
  

I have listed some picture books in this blog post about bushfires and I have a Pinterest collection on this topic.

I previously talked about these books by Sue Whiting:

The Book of Chance

Tilda

Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast

Somewhere for Little Bear by Britta Teckentrup

Publisher blurb: Little Bear lives happily in his cozy cave deep in the woods. He loves picking berries in the day, listening to the birds sing under his favourite tree in the evenings, and curling up comfily on his soft leaves to sleep each night. But when Bear wakes up one morning to find his beloved forest ablaze, he must make a quick escape, away from his cozy cave, friendly faces and the comforts he knows. He walks and walks in search of somewhere new to call home but finds he's not welcome in the places that look most familiar to him. Feeling hopeless and alone, Little Bear must journey even further into the unknown. And only in the most unfamiliar of places, does the kindness of new animal friends lead Little Bear to discover the true meaning of home . . .

"I must be brave ... I must find somewhere new to call home."

But there are rabbits in the burrow, a family of foxes under the leaves behind the log; and some delicious berries but oh no a wild boar has claimed them. Little Bear walks and walks and eventually he reaches a different forest - a place where he is made welcome - a new home at last. 

This is a book you could share with a preschool group or sitting beside your own young reading companion. The illustrations are so special, and the story demonstrates the power of kindness. 

If your library budget allows, I highly recommend adding books illustrated and by Britta Teckentrup to your collection. Her name is a label on this post - if you click that link you will see lots of her other books that I have featured here on this blog. 

Here in Australia our Grade 4 students have a unit of work about bushfires as part of their Geography studies. I have a Pinterest with other books that explore this natural disaster and its impact on our Australian bush and animals.

Here is another book about little bear:

It’s cold in the woods, and it’s time for Little Bear to start his winter sleep. But not before he says good night to all of his special forest friends—badger, deer, rabbit, mouse, fox, owl, squirrel, and wolf. Now Little Bear can happily fall asleep in his warm and cozy den all snuggled up to his mother . . . knowing that his friends will watch out for him during his long winter’s sleep.

Scout and the Rescue Dogs by Dianne Wolfer

Scout's mum has died and because her dad is a long-distance truck driver, Scout is now at boarding school. As is often the way with boarding school stories Scout feels lost and she is also bullied. Luckily, as the story opens, the Christmas holidays are beginning and here in Australia that means Scout can leave school behind for the next five or six weeks. In the first week, leading up to Christmas, Scout joins her dad as he drives through Northern Victoria and Southern NSW with a delivery of dog food which has been donated by a philanthropist. 

At each animal shelter Scout meets some sweet dogs and other rescued animals including a baby wombat. The owners of the various shelters explain why dogs are left and how desperate they are to find new owners for these pets. Scout is a girl of action. She can see some of these dogs would be fabulous companions for other long-haul drivers like her father. Her class teacher has set up a pen pal assignment for the summer holidays and Scout is matched with a kind girl called Anika. Together, via email, they design a website for the rescue dogs and (spoiler alert) Scout finds the perfect little dog to join her own family.

Meanwhile ferocious bushfires are engulfing enormous parts of Southern Australia. The air is filled with smoke and Scout and her dad have to race home and prepare their own house in case the fire reaches the town where they live. If you are book talking Scout and the Rescue Dogs you could read aloud pages 198-203 which describe the fire coming so close to their home. I have a Pinterest of other books that explore bushfires here in Australia. 

"Shelters full of pets as rental crisis bites" Sydney Morning Herald 23 March, 2024 by Tim Barlass

By coincidence, our Sydney Morning Herald newspaper had an article today about animal shelters and the huge number of dogs and cats being surrendered. This is an issue which is explored in Scout and the Rescue Dogs. In the article today the animals are taken to rescue centres because their owners need to be able to rent somewhere to live and having a dog or cat is not looked on favorably by landlords. In Scout and the Rescue Dogs - dogs and cats are taken there when they turn out to be unwanted Christmas presents. And there is also the horrendous issue of illegal puppy farms and the urgent rescue of very badly mistreated dogs. 

Scout and the Rescue dogs has been shortlisted by the CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) in the Younger Readers category.

Here are the judges' comments: Realistically set during the 2019/20 bushfires, this book journeys with Scout and her dad as they deliver donations of dog food to animal shelters throughout southeastern 

Australia. The bushfires and the geographical details related to their travels are accurately presented. Grieving the loss of her mum, sparked by their travels, the people they meet and a school friendship project, Scout develops a website to connect shelter dogs with truck drivers needing company. Responsible internet use, described throughout the text is commendable and age appropriate. Including creative design features, this fictional narrative is heartwarming and uplifting, dealing sensitively with topics of parental loss, environmental threat, bullying and separation balanced by optimism and the love Scout shares with her father and with animals.

Strengths

• Scout has an authentic voice.
• Scout is a problem solver and her idea of matching shelter dogs with long distance truck drivers is practical and realistic.
• There is an interesting side story in this book about girls and STEM, fostering curiosity and hobbies like rock collecting.
• Adult readers will well remember the dreadful bushfires referred to in this story.
• The urgency of the bushfire danger, Christmas celebrations and the delivery of donated dog food to various animal shelters is an effective device which moves the plot along at a good pace.
• Scout and her dad have a warm relationship, but I did find all the 'dad' jokes a little tedious at times. On the other hand, you could use these with a group of students in your library as a way to introduce the lighter side of this story.
• The concept of philanthropy is one that is worth exploring with upper primary readers.
• You could use this book to explore maps of Southern NSW and Northern Victoria - in fact I kept hoping the book might contain a map because I was very keen to follow their journey.

Dianne Wolfer has a generous selection of photos of dogs in trucks here. 

Weaknesses

• Is this book worthy of our most prestigious award? I think it is an enjoyable story which I would happily recommend to a reader aged 10+ but there is nothing here that excited me. I look for books that stretch a reader; that contain a rich vocabulary; and that involve deep emotions.
• The CBCA criteria under Literary merit says:  The language exhibits breadth and variety of vocabulary and precision. And under the Theme heading: Ideas and messages within the narrative are skilfully presented and crafted. The reader can recognise the themes or develop a fresh perspective. I was not able to apply these criteria to this book.
• This story is very Australian and very location and time specific - I am not sure it will appeal to, or translate to, an international audience which is something I always hope will happen with our CBCA winners.
• At times all the extra issues in this book felt quite overwhelming - climate change; puppy farms; koalas burnt in bushfires; struggling farmers; death of a parent; animal rights; injuries to firefighters, and animal euthanasia. 

Here are some very brief teachers notes from Scholastic. Here is a review from The Bottom Shelf. 

Read these reviews for more plot details:

The talented Dianne Wolfer has created an interesting chapter book full of innovative thoughts and ideas around the importance of considering properly, what is involved in choosing a dog or giving one as a gift. Kids' Book Review

Dianne Wolfer has written an engaging, heartwarming novel that touches on some big topics, including the death of a parent and dangerous bushfires (the terrible 2019/2020 summer bushfires are used as background context). While it is confronting in parts and doesn't shy away from honestly discussing these issues it carries a lightness courtesy of Scout and her father's loving relationship, a lovely smattering of dad jokes, Aussie slang and cultural references to summer cricket, Christmas traditions and road trip sights and sounds. Read Plus

Scout and the Rescue Dogs by Dianne Wolfer with illustrations by Tony Flowers is oozing with community spirit in the face of adversity, layered, authentic and endearing characters, a glimpse into the world of community outreach by truckies and gorgeous dogs needing to find their forever homes. This story seamlessly weaves together in a riveting and non-didactic way many themes including, the truckie community full of heart and spirit making deliveries during the 2019-20 Victorian bushfires, climate change, responsible pet ownership, puppy farms, a positive father daughter relationship, grief and loss. Reading Opens Doors

See other books by Dianne Wolfer including these ones which I really enjoyed. She has written a huge range of titles including picture books, picture books for older readers and novels:

The Dog with Seven names

CBCA Book of the Year Early Childhood 2014

Koala Ark by Stephen Michael King

"It came fast and without warning. The smouldering embers drifted into a smoky mist. There was great concern for the billabong friend."

The bushfire has arrived. Koala has a boat - an ark - and he sets off to collect all of his friends so they can be taken to a safe place. 

An ark! The original ark was filled with animals gathered by Noah - but in this book the disaster is not a flood it is a huge bushfire and the hero is not a man, it is a small, but heroic koala.

I love the spare text in this book and the hand drawn, fine line illustrations which on every page beautifully extend the text. Every face in this book conveys enormous emotion. Readers from other countries will be introduced to words such as billabong and Australian animals such as the Hopping Mouse, galah, bowerbird, tawny frogmouth, lorikeets, black cockatoos, and the bandicoot. 

The opening end paper of Koala Ark is presented as an aerial or bird's eye view of small islands near the coast of the Southern Ocean. Each area is inhabited by a different  group of animals. The landscape is lush and green. Then on the next page there is a huge orange and yellow image. You may immediately think, as I did, of fire.  On the title page we can see koala island and koalas enjoying their daily life but something is coming - a bushfire. On the final end paper the viewer zooms in even closer and it is clear the danger has passed and the koalas are once again able to enjoy their small patch of precious habitat.  The end paper images in Koala Ark reminded me of the images by Stephen Michael King for the story Up the Creek from Beetle Soup by Robin Morrow illustrated by Stephen Michael King (1997). 

Read the true life events that inspired Stephen Michael King to write this book. Sales of this book will be used to support: Koalas in Care  and Aussie Ark/ Koala Ark Project.

Companion reads:

You could also compare the bushfire images in Koala Ark with an earlier book by Stephen Michael King - Applesauce and the Christmas Miracle:

Applesauce and the Christmas Miracle

Take a look at my Pinterest collection of picture books about Bushfires here in Australia.

Sunshine by Marion Dane Bauer

When Ben was just three years old his mother left. One day she was there the next she was gone. Ben has spent his life wondering. Why did she leave? Did he do something wrong? Is there something he could do to persuade her to come back? Is any of this connected with his own anxiety? Ben is afraid of heights and the dark.

One of the ways Ben has been able to cope with his life circumstances is through the deep friendship of his beloved dog named Sunshine. 

Now that he is older Ben asks his father if he can spend a week staying with his mother. She lives on a very remote, off grid island in the middle of north Minnesota. His father takes him to meet his mother and she arrives in a small canoe. The journey to her home will take several hours and about half way the canoe will need to be portaged (or carried across some land) before the journey can continue.

Very early in the book though, readers are given a hint or two about Sunshine. Ben reaches out to pat her and his father says "you're doing it again, aren't you?". Doing what? Later in the cafe Ben drops a few cold chips for Sunshine:

"Ben drops another French Fry on the floor. It lands next to the first, pale and limp, but Sunshine, lying with her chin on her paws, doesn't even glance at it. He likes to feed her leftovers, but she not much for eating them."

Wait a minute - do you know any dog who would leave a chip, even a cold chip, lying on the floor? Then Ben steps into the canoe and realises his dog is missing. 

"Why did he think he needed to go looking for Sunshine anyway? She's there. Just the way she always is. Right in front of him ... "

Perhaps you have worked out something about Sunshine (read the Kirkus review for plot details). Over the course of a few days with his mother Ben will learn things about himself and more importantly things about his mother and the events from her past that lead her to leave her precious young son. This is a very moving, deeply engrossing and emotional story. It is a short book with 193 pages so I read it all in one session. Readers who love dogs will recognise the relationship between Ben and Sunshine. I really enjoyed the vivid outdoor scenes on the island and the mention of Loons - birds I found fascinating when I lived in Canada.

The Kirkus Star review says: Richly character driven, immersive, evocative, and painfully sad, this effort can’t fail to move young readers. Ben and his family seem to be White.  An outstanding exploration of childhood trauma from a masterful author.

This book is for every child who has been abandoned and for every child who has been hit.  This book is for every child who believed they were the reason the bad things happened to them. An adventure in the wilderness and an adventure in the pain of children whose parents have let them down, this is the story of any child who cries on the inside and aches to be loved and wanted. A Book and a Hug

Readers who enjoy the outdoors, will find Ben and his mother’s exploration of this pristine an remote island appealing — like Ben’s first encounter with the lake’s loons and a mother bear and her baby. The week is one big adventure for Ben and he discovers he can be resourceful and brave. Children's Books Heal

Companion reads:

October, October

Small as an Elephant

The Secrets we Keep

Years ago I read these two books - terrific junior verse novels - so I have had the name Marion Dane Bauer in my mind and that is what led me to firstly add Sunshine to my very long "to read" list and then later, just this week, to buy it because the $28 hardcover was reduced to less than $10!

Little Dog Lost

Little Cat's Luck