3rd December World Coati Day

On the 3rd of December every year, World Coati Day is celebrated to promote awareness and conservation of coatimundi.

Coatimundi are mammals found in North, Central and South America. Their closest relative is the racoon. They live in bands of up to 30, although adult males usually live alone. They are arboreal, meaning that they live in trees. Their long noses are used to find food under rocks and in crevices.

These creatures are at risk due to human development, and they are also hunted for meat. There are four species of coati, all of which have declining populations. The Eastern Mountain Coati is an endangered species.

I knew nothing about the coati until my daughter sent me a photo she had taken up close with one coming down a tree while she was in Guatemala. It was alone so I assume it was male.

There are very few picture books that feature this animal available for an Australian audience and what there is is very expensive. We have this amusing one:

• Untitled  by Timothy Young.

A coatimundi and a capybara are stuck in a book with no plot, wishing they had a title, a better author, and a better illustrator, and hoping something exciting will happen.

These are others:

26th November World Lewis Day

World Lewis Day is  held annually on November 26. It was created to raise awareness of the hundreds of koalas that have died or have been displaced due to bushfires and to promote koala conservation.

Koalas are probably the most vulnerable to bushfires because eucalyptus trees where they live are highly flammable, and koalas move too slowly to be able to escape. Moreover, they rarely even try to escape; when in danger, koalas instinctively climb up to the very top of a tree, seeking refuge, curl up there, and become trapped. Koalas that don’t die from the fire may die later due to overheating and dehydration. Thousands of koalas have died in Australian bushfires, and more have become displaced due to the resulting habitat destruction. Habitat fragmentation caused by bushfires makes koalas isolated and causes a sharp reduction in the size of their population. 

World Lewis Day was created to raise awareness of the dangers of bushfires for koalas. It was named after Lewis the Koala that was saved from a bushfire in November 2019. During the 2019-2020 Australian bushfire season, also known as Black Summer due to its devastating effects, Toni Doherty from New South Wales saved a badly burned koala and named him Ellenborough Lewis after one of her seven grandchildren. Lewis was taken to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, where he was treated for his burns. Sadly, the burns were too extensive for Lewis to recover.

The children I teach are very aware of the threat bushfires are for koalas, because they are the subject of quite a few picture books.

This is the uplifting true story of a koala who saved her baby from a bushfire, and the dedicated vets who looked after them until they were healed and ready to go home.

When a devastating bushfire ravages the land where Mallee the koala lives, she clings to her tree, hoping for safety. As the fires die down, the land is still hot, so Mallee must wait. When she can finally venture to the ground, Mallee finds her beloved tree blackened and thirsty.

Through the smoke, in a tiny battered boat, Koala sets out to rescue the billabong friends. 

A compelling and uplifting true story, with a sweet message about coping with loss that draws attention to an important and threatened wild animal.

One day, Fluffles and friends noticed bush fires starting in the outback. There was nowhere to escape so they rose up, up, up into the trees to wait it out until the ashes cooled. But when they climbed down, the hot trees burned their tiny paws. While they healed, they found one another and snuggled up, as the big hugs reminded them of their trees. 

A bushfire is coming! All the animals are trying to escape. They fly, slither, hop, run...but what about the koalas?

When deadly bushfires sweep through the forest, Bear and his team must act fast. Will Bear be able to find and help save the wild koalas? Follow the true story of Bear as he finds his purpose for important conservation work.

Some chapter books:

 

24th November World Walrus Day

In 2008, The World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) and Marine Mammal Council (MMC) designated November 24th as Walrus Day. 

Walruses are marine mammals mostly found in the Arctic Circle, which are easily recognised with their moustache, enormous bodies, and long white tusks! Towards the end of autumn, they leave the Arctic shores of the Chukotka Sea to spend winter in the Bering Strait, making them vulnerable during their journey. Organisers aim to use the day to raise awareness of the diminishing populations of these marine mammals, which are listed on the IUCN Red List Status as vulnerable.

Fun fact: Walruses can hold their breath for a whopping 30 minutes and dive to depths of 90m in their hunt for lunch!

Despite facing challenges like shrinking sea ice, they make gliding through the ocean look absolutely effortless.

There's not a large number of books featuring walrus and children in Australia are very unlikely to see one, unless travelling to the Arctic, but here's what we have:

20th November Use Less Stuff Day

Use Less Stuff Day occurs on the third Thursday of November. This campaign aims to make people realise how we often buy things we don’t use, leading to unnecessary home clutter. Most people live over-consumptive lifestyles, leading to more waste generation and environmental pollution. This is in keeping with the aim of the Sustainable Development Goal #14 Responsible Consumption & Production.

As well as the usual nonfiction books that deal with waste, consumption, garbage, recycling etc, such as these

these picture books tell stories that will start a discussion about 'too much stuff'.

18th November William Tell Day

William Tell Day, pays tribute to  Switzerland's best-loved national hero . According to legend, he was a peasant from Bürglen who rebelled against Austrian authority during the 13th century. It is said that he was forced to shoot an apple from his son’s head. He was arrested for endangering the governor’s life, saved the same governor’s life on his way to jail, escaped, and eventually killed him in an ambush. His bravery and integrity inspired his countrymen to fight together against Austrian rule and for freedom from the Habsburg Empire.

Our school library does not have many books specifically about William Tell. We have the Margaret Early picture book with its outstanding illustrations

and the Tony Bradman 'reader' from the Orchard series,

and the humorous Aussie Bites  by Margaret Clark.

16th November World Idea Day

Today is World Idea Day. Essentially, it was founded because ideas are powerful tools to do good things in the world. Without ideas, we would be neither creative nor innovative. In that regard, progress would simply not happen. However, ideas have to be realised in the real world! That's when action comes in. While ideas are our guides, action is what creates change!

Children have lots of ideas, many of them very good ideas, but some children are not risk-takers and do not have a positive growth mindset, so teachers spend time in classrooms working on this. Here's some books which will help with ideas and discussions of creativity.

• What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada

This is the story of one brilliant idea and the child who helps to bring it into the world. As the child's confidence grows, so does the idea itself. And then, one day, something amazing happens.

• The Most Magnificent Idea  by Ashley Spires

The girl in this story, with her dog at her side, loves to make things. Her brain, she says, is an "idea machine," so full of ideas that she can hardly keep up. But then one day... it isn't. All of a sudden, the girl can't come up with a single idea for what to make. She tries everything: brainstorming, gathering new supplies, even jumping up and down on one foot to shake an idea loose. But, nothing. 

• The Very Important Idea  by Emma Dodson

This amusing picture book tells the story of a rat and a cat, and explores the nature of ideas. Where do they come from and how are they rated A good idea for a cat is not necessarily the same thing as a good idea for a rat.

• I Have an Idea!  by Herve Tullet

This is at once a meditation on and a celebration of the magic of the birth of a simple idea. Sparkling with visual wit, it is a richly emotional exploration of the creative process, from the initial anticipation of the hunt for an idea, to the frustration of chasing the wrong idea, to the exhilaration of capturing just the right idea.

• Emily's Idea  by Christine Evans

This inspiring tale begins when a little girl decides to create a paper chain of dolls. Her idea catches on and spreads far and wide, as children around the world begin to create and share their own.

• Ruthie Rose's Big Idea  by John Schu

Ruthie Rose wakes up with an idea. A big, bright, beautiful idea.
An idea so great! An idea so grand! Ruthie Rose can’t wait to share it with her idea-loving teacher librarian, her art teacher, and her best friend.

• The Book of Mistakes  by Corinna Luyken

Told in minimal, playful text, this story shows readers that even the biggest "mistakes" can be the source of the brightest ideas-and that, at the end of the day, we are all works in progress, too.

• The Imagineer  by Christopher Cheng

Penny has a massive imagination. She loves to draw up plans, gather her tools and turn sketches and scribbles into new creations. One day, she visits her grandpa's house and is amazed at his gadgets and gizmos. He has a telephone hanging on his wall, an organ with bellows to pump and a contraption with a handle to churn homemade butter.

• Once Upon a Big Idea  by James Carter

Telescopes and clocks and trains- all big ideas from human brains! From bridges and boats to medicines and mobile phones, this book takes readers on a journey of discovery through all the amazing inventions human beings have come up with.