A is for Australian animals: a factastic tour by Frane Lessac
Walker Books Australia, 2017. ISBN 9781925381009
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Factual picture book. Australian
animals. This is a unique alphabet book that will enlighten and
entertain any child or adult who reads it. Filled with Lessac's
signature drawings the reader is given lots of information about
each of the animals in the alphabet. In fact, as one peruses the
book, it is very easy to forget that it is an alphabet book, and
become immersed in the strange and in-depth facts that are given in
bite size sections of one or two sentences spread among the
beautiful illustrations.
Each of the letters in the alphabet is given a page and often there
are a number of animals described and illustrated on the page. For
example one double page spread has Cockatoo on one side and
Crocodile on the other but both crocodiles and cockatoos are
illustrated in a beautiful green river setting, with gum trees which
house the cockatoos. There is even a crocodile trying to bite a bird
with the information that Crocodiles can leap over two metres
out of the water to catch their prey in the air.
At the front of the book is a large map of Australia showing where
some of the animals, birds and reptiles live, with general
information about what makes them unique. The last page show maps of
animal distribution that gives the reader immediate information
about where animals and birds featured in the book can be found. The
illustrations are in deep blues, greens, browns and ochres
reflecting the colours of the Australian landscape.
This would be an excellent addition to a library or classroom and
would make an ideal gift for children.
Pat Pledger