At the Edge: Curious Creatures of Planet Earth by David Elliott illustrated by Clover Robin

I have heard of (but never seen) many of the curious creatures in this book but I am sure most will be unfamiliar to your library group or young reading companion: pangolin, platypus, peacock spider, axolotl, culper eel, maned wolf, pink fairy armadillo, aye-aye, makhor, cassowary, orchid mantis, black rain frog, and naked mole rat.

The text in this book is a series of very brief poems - one has only two lines! Every page turn is a surprise - revealing a close-up collage illustration of each creature.

Now where will you put this book in your library - animals [591] or poetry [811]?

Peacock Spider

When he romances

this spider dances.

In jaw-dropping hues

this jitterbug woos.

He wants her

spider heart

to thump

when she hears

his rumble-rump.

He hopes he will win her.

If not, he's her dinner.

I talked at length about David Elliott in this recent post.

Do you remember when the CBCA slogan was "Curious Creatures Wild Minds"? I penned seven posts with book ideas. This book would have been a perfect one to share. But put that one side. This is book published in 2026 will be a terrific addition to your school library.

If you have not yet discovered Clover Robin can I strongly urge you to seek out her books. Her collage illustrations are a visual delight.

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.

On the Trail of the Plains-wanderer: A precious Australian bird by Rohan Cleave illustrated by Julian Teh

"They are the only member of their family tree. No other bird exists like them anywhere on the planet. 

This is why the Pains-wanderer is so important."

This is a wonderful new Australian book about a very appealing and rare little ground bird. Just before I discovered this book, I visited Deniliquin in Southern New South Wales and while I was there I read a report in a local newspaper about the Plains-wanderer. Later I discovered that in 2021 the town held an art exhibition to raise funds to help save this endangered bird. 

Here is one example of a painting from the fund raising event:

The cover illustration of On the Trail of the Plains-wanderer is so striking. Compare it with this photo from eBird.

Julian Teh really captures the personality the Plains-wanderer but without reducing it to a comic character. The page where we are given an aerial view of the cracked red earth is especially powerful (this is used on the back cover too) and the spotlight scene creates a very effective page turn. The horizon line gives a strong sense of the landscape – the vast plain where this rare bird lives. The tussocky grass looks almost tactile. 

This tiny bird is now only found in western Victoria, eastern South Australia and in the western Riverina region of NSW. You can hear it here. 

Image source: Birds in backyards

Scientific name: Pedionomus torquatus

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Critically Endangered

Threats - loss of habitat; farming practices and overuse of chemicals; predators such as birds of prey, foxes and feral cats.

The Plains-wanderer is a small quail-like bird standing about 12-15 cm tall and weighing 40 to 95 grams. Both sexes have straw-yellow legs and bills, and their plumage is mainly fawn with fine black rosettes. The larger female is easily distinguished by her prominent white-spotted black collar above a rich rufous breast patch.

Further reading:

Bush Heritage Australia

NSW Office of Environment and Heritage

eBird.com

Nature Conservancy

Reading more about Julian Teh, I discovered he is a natural history photographer and illustrator.  On the Trail of the Plains-wanderer is a 2023 Notable book in the Eve Powall (non fiction) category. Watch the trailer on the publisher (CSIRO) page. 

Bookseller details about this book:

• Introduces kids to the life of the Plains-wanderer - an ancient bird species that is unique as it is the sole member of its family.
• Because of its evolutionary uniqueness and risk of extinction, researchers have ranked the Plains-wanderer as Australia's most important bird and the fourth most important bird species in the world.
• The Plains-wanderer has been nicknamed the Goldilocks bird, as they are quite particular about their habitat.
• The books shares a message of hope, highlighting how farmers are working with researchers to make their properties just right.
• Explores how Zoos are helping save the Plains-wanderer with captive breeding programs and creative thinking.

Here are some other fabulous books published by CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation).

Tenrec's Twigs by Bert Kitchen

Tuesday Treasure

"As the sun rose over the hill, Tenrec popped his head out of his burrow and sniffed the fresh morning air. The weather was dry and bright, just right for building. He snuffled along until he came to the place where he had gathered a pile of twigs the day before."

Following a question and answer format the little tenrec (they only live in Madagascar) asks a number of unusual animals if they know why he building his twig constructions - should he stop building them?  Here is a list of the animals:

• Warthog
• Giant anteater
• Small-scaled Pangolin
• Golden Mole
• Marabou "Adjutant" Stork
• Two-toed Sloth
• Milky Eagle Owl

And here is our little tenrec:

It is perfect timing to talk about this book which is one of my Tuesday Treasures (even though today is not Tuesday).  Last week the UN reported one million species are at risk of extinction on our planet. There are two things I love about this book - the wonderful science-like illustrations by Bert Kitchen and the way this book increased my curiosity about animals such as the tenrec, pangolin and stork. The last page in the book has some scientific information as a springboard to your research. Read these comments by my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything. We both agree this is a favourite book which I hope you can find in a school or local library.