Wild Koala Day – May 3!
Koalas are one of the 10 species worldwide most at risk from climate change. This is due to a ‘perfect storm’ of effects: increasing aridity, increasing frequency of wildfire, increasing length & severity of droughts and heatwaves – all leading to stress and increasing disease. Add to this the scientifically-recorded damaging effect of increased carbon dioxide on eucalyptus leaves (leads to higher toxins and lower nutritional compounds) and the koala is running out of time. Only by increasing koala habitat will we improve their chances.
Humans are the biggest problem for koalas, but also the solution. Koalas and humans want to live in the same places in Australia, and though most people love koalas, with people come cars and dogs – both deadly to koalas. Over 4000 koalas are killed by dogs each year and many more are killed by cars.
All Australian children love koalas and are keen to make sure they survive. The students I teach are no exception. Any time we do a koala display the books leave the library quickly.
In a display I would include stories, factual texts and books that tell of the koala's struggle such as
• Tippy and Jellybean by Sophie Cunningham and Anil Tortop
• Nala the Koala by Penny Min Ferguson
• Koala Hospital by Suzi Eszterhas
• The 99th Koala by Kailas Wild
• Kolah the Koala by Jan Latta
• Jimmy the Joey by Deborah Lee Rose and Susan Kelly
• Dexter the Courageous Koala by Jesse Blackadder
Koala information:
• Koalas by Laura Marsh
• Koala by Claire Saxby and Julie Vivas
• Koalas by Kate Riggs
• Koalas by Katie Woolley
• Oz Animals Koalas by Charles Hope
Stories:
• Why Koala Has a Stumpy Tail by Martha Hamilton, Mitch Weiss and Tom Wrenn
• Koalas Eat Gum Leaves by Laura Bunting and Philip Bunting
• The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright
• Little Koala Lost by Blaze Kwaymullina and Jess Racklyeft
• Koala Bare by Jackie French and Matt Shanks
• Eustace and Clyde by Marina Aizen
• Tim and Ed by Ursula Dubosarsky and Andrew Joyner
• The Gum Family Finds a Home by Tania McCartney and Christina Booth
Chapter books:
• Baby Koala Rescue by Tilda Kelly
• Tufty Needs a New Home by Sara Leman and Steve Parish
• The Cuddly Koala Zoe's Rescue Zoo 8 by Amelia Cobb and Sophy Williams
• Lulu Bell and the Koala Joey 10 by Belinda Murrell
• Mission Fox Koala Round-Up 8 by Justin D'Ath and Heath McKenzie
• Surviving the Wild 2 Rainbow the Koala by Remy Lai (graphic novel)
I marvel at the way you know about topics like this. Koalas would be a terrific topic to study in depth with a junior class - there are SO many books to explore. Thanks for another terrific and informative and generous post.
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