Birrarung Wilam: A Story From Aboriginal Australia

Travel along Melbourne’s twisting Yarra River in a glorious celebration of Indigenous culture and Australia’s unique flora and fauna.

Featured in Vol. XIII, Issue 2 of WOW Review.

Birrarung Wilam: A Story From Aboriginal Australia is a WOW Recommends: Book of the Month for September 2020.

Dingo

Dingo leaves her sleeping pups with her mate and lifts her head to smell the air. Dusk is a busy time — the time for hunting. Softly and fleetly she runs through the forest, past a possum, a wombat, and kangaroos in the gully below. Now she climbs to the highest point and sniffs again, locating the scent of rabbits in the wind. Interspersed with text offering facts for curious readers, Dingo is a lyrical foray into the life of these fascinating wild dogs.

Top To Bottom Down Under

Ted and Betsy Lewin’s adventures take them from the northernmost tip of Australia to the southernmost tip. At the top, they interrupt a python’s mealtime, encounter a ferocious pack of dingoes, and come face-to-face with a crocodile. Down at the bottom, they dine with rude kangaroos, meet their first platypus, and confront an ill-tempered sea lion! The vivid colors, close-up paintings, and rich landscapes rendered in the Lewins’ distinct watercolor styles, combined with action-packed narrative, will make you want to pack your bags and visit the land down under!

Wombat Walkabout

Early one morning when the sun came out, Six woolly wombats went walkabout. This whimsical counting poem follows six brave little wombats on walkabout in the Australian outback. But the wilderness is bound to bring more excitement than an innocent counting game. Soon enough, the curious wombats learn to beware the hungry dingo! Aussie native Sophie Blackall’s delicious illustrations set adorable wombats in a lush world of golden wattles, billabongs, kookaburras, and gum nuts. With marvelous wordplay and irresistible read-aloud phrases, this ingenious text is sure to become a well-worn favorite. Accompanied by a short, simple glossary of Australian terms and wildlife.