A wild adventure by Yvette Poshoglian and Danielle McDonald

Ella and Olivia series, Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781742761947
(Age: 5-7) Recommended. Themes: Holidays. Australian animals. Ella and Olivia's twenty first book sees the family set out on a holiday trip to Wild Animals Adventure Park. They have packed their bikes in the trailer and the sisters and little brother Max are ready for the long drive. There's plenty of conversation about the animals they will see and activities to help pass the time in their travel bags. At the park they settle in to Lizard Lodge, where Ella is surprised by a bearded dragon on the cabin's verandah.
When the family ride through the park, there are lot of animals to observe, even a lyrebird that mimics a mobile phone ring. Ella and Olivia are keen to cuddle a koala at the Koala Kuddle Korner, however the queue is very long, perhaps they can try again on another day. The sisters are excited for their first bike ride without Mum, Dad and Max. Trusting the girls to stay safely on the path and stick together is important. When something happens, Ranger Alice comes to the rescue and rewards the girls with a special treat for observing a mother and baby koala nestling in a nearby tree.
Yvette Poshoglian's charming stories are written specifically for early readers who enjoy simple plots and relatable characters. She celebrates the special relationship sisters Ella and Olivia share and the simple joys of family life. The extremely large font and Danielle McDonald's cute drawings support the transition from picture book to beginning novel. Each book is written with a specific theme and each includes a range of familiar text and some specific trickier words relating to the theme.
Rhyllis Bignell