22nd August International Wombat Day

Today we celebrate a small, burrowing marsupial that is native to Australia, known as the wombat. They are the largest burrowing mammals. They spend most of their time underground in their extensive burrows and emerge mainly at night. There are three species of wombats: the common or bare-nosed wombat, and the southern and northern hairy-nosed wombats.

Celebrating Wombat Day can be as simple as reading about your favourite wombat. For Australian children, that is probably Jackie French's Mothball, who made famous because he is the 'star' of the series of diaries about him. It started with Diary of a Wombat and now there are many sequels and even a prequel, The Diary of a Rescue Wombat which was published to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first book. 

The children at my school still love the 'old favourite'  Sebastian Lives in a Hat  which tells the story of an orphaned four month old wombat joey who is nursed in the home of the author Thelma Catterwell and who sleeps in a hat, his pretend pouch. This book has had its 30th anniversary, but is still in print.

And thirdly, look for and then read Susannah Chambers' wombat stories, The Snow Wombat and The Beach Wombat.

There are many others in our library on display at the moment!

August Platypus Month

Happy Platypus Month! This August, let’s celebrate this unique, egg-laying mammal and support national initiatives to reintroduce the platypus in their natural habitats. in Australia, the end of winter is typically the best time to catch a glimpse of platypus as they forage for food and seek out a mate. That’s why the Australian Platypus Conservancy is urging all Australians to Report a Platypus Sighting to help build a better understanding of the status, distribution and conservation needs of these animals! 

The platypus is one of Australia’s most iconic native animals! Platypuses are elusive, skittish, and nocturnal. They’re difficult to see, and even more difficult to monitor! New evidence is suggesting that platypus numbers are declining throughout Australia. If people report a platypus sighting it will help researchers build a better understanding of the status, distribution and conservation needs of these animals! 

To know what you are looking for and where to find one, it would be a good idea to do some research of your own. Unfortunately many of the nonfiction books written for children about platypus are not Australian and we find that while not factually incorrect the wording is strange to our ears. 

In the library start with these:

• Platypus by Sue Whiting and Mark Jackson. This is Australian and part of the Nature Storybook series from Walker Books where there is factual information and a story using different fonts.

• The Story of the Platypus  by Anita Ganeri. This is not Australian but written by a highly respected writer of nonfiction books for children.

This book looks at the platypus: the first time it was reported to the Western world, the public and scientific community's reaction to it, the search for evidence, how the animal was finally recognised as a real species, and its current status today. There is also some information about the platypus's life and what makes it special or different. 

• Beneath the Trees by Cristy Burke who is a science writer.  This is a short Australian novel, but it gives information .

Cam and Sophie feel like they've been travelling forever to get to the rainforest and the river and their cousins. They just want to see a platypus in the wild, but with the rain tipping down and the river turning wild they can't see a thing. Until suddenly, they can. A platypus is just below them, and it needs help! 

 Then try these:

• A Platypus, Probably by Sneed. B.Collard

• Platypus! by Ginjer L. Clarke

• Platypuses by Sara Louise Kras

• The Platypus What is It? by Jo Brice and Gregory Rogers (Australian)

• Echidnas and Platypuses  by Debbie and Brendan Gallagher (Australian)

• Little Platypus: A Day in the Life of a Platypus Puggle  by Anna Brett

And then here's some stories to enjoy:

• Little Platypus  by Nette Hilton and Nina Rycroft (Australian)

• Pugsley Platypus  by Jessica Keating and Caroline Hazell (Australian)

• Oi Duck-Billed Platypus! by Kes Gray and Jim Field

•  Sleep Tight, Platypup by Renee Treml (Australian)

• The Silver Stream  by Robert Roennfeldt (Australian)

• Platypus Deep by Jill Morris (Australian)

August Platypus Month

If you live in the Australian Capital Territory during August you can be on a platypus watch. How exciting. These animals are  special, but elusive, so to see one in its natural habitat would be so memorable. There is a good summary of what to know about platypuses here.

There is not an abundance of picture books about the platypus. Unlike echidnas, possums, wombats, kangaroos, bilbies and koalas who feature in stories and expository texts, platypus don't  and when they do they are often not written or illustrated by Australians.

Sue Whiting and Mark Jackson's  Platypus  is the most recent and the best. This book is part of the wonderful Nature Storybook series where there is two fonts, one telling a narrative and the other giving facts about the animal.  These other three are older, but they will add to your knowledge and allow the reader to see the platypus as a story character and learn some of the Aboriginal Dreamtime connection it has and they are published in Australia.

• Little Platypus by Nette Hilton and Nina Rycroft
• The Platypus What is it? by Jo Brice and Gregory Rogers
• The Little Platypus and the Fire Spirit by Mundara Koran