John Williamson's Koala koala by John Williamson. Illus. by Jonathan Bentley

One of the songs which featured on John Williamson’s Family Album, Koala koala reflects all of his songs replete with the theme of family and togetherness. 

This book is one of a series featuring Williamson’s songs and will be eagerly taken up by kids wanting to read and look or sing along. And this particular book shows Williamson’s long devotion to the conservation of koalas and their habitat. 

Based on the song from his album, this song promotes revegetation, keeping them safe from dogs, leaving water out when it is hot and helping to prevent bushfires. Each of these is a discussion point with younger readers. This utube video will take you to the original version of the song which could be sung along with the one in the book, Koala koala.

At the end of the book is a page of information about koalas, and an outline of the work by Koala Conservation Australia. Readers will love finding out more about this animal and its endangered status, working out ways they can help them survive.

Bentley’s lovely illustrations cover each page, showing the environment the koalas live in and how it is being destroyed. The attributes of the koala are clearly shown encouraging children to look at the animal and see what features it has which help it survive. 

I love the way Bentley’s illustrations bring the story back to the level of kids planting trees to help the koala. It is something they can do easily, enlisting the help of councils or school boards. 

The plea at the end of the book, of bringing back the forests is something which can be aimed for.

Themes: Conservation, Koalas, Environment, Trees.

Fran Knight