What’s that? Australian mammals by Myke Mollard

Another book within the same series, What’s that? is Australian mammals. The same format as Australian birds, this too is an interesting, informative book with lovely illustrations, maps and a an impressive array of facts scattered around each page.

Some mammals are spread over two pages, but most are afforded a single page. After an introductory double page, showing what a mammal is and dividing them into three groupies, monotremes (egg laying), marsupials (embryo crawls to mum’s pouch) and placentals (remain in mum’s womb until ready to survive). Each of these three is a distinctive colour and this colour is reiterated through the book as a strip of colour showing what group the animal belongs to.

Fascinating pages follow, showing an echidna, platypus and koala. Less well known animals come after these: bandicoot, dingo, quokka and pademelons amongst many others. Oddly the thylacine is said to be threatened, but the facts go on to tell us that the last thylacine died in 1936.

On page 14 is the marsupial mole, a blind underground animal that uses its very strong claws to dig its way around. The illustration will provide hints about its features. Rarely seen, it has appeared in several dreaming stories. This will prod students to further research these little animals.

And the last page shows the wonderful dugong, a favourite Australian mammal. This book like the others in the What’s that? series will have instant appeal. It is informative, very readable, its layout encouraging and impressive, with beautiful illustrations that will impel readers to look more closely at each page.

Woodlane Press produces field guides and books for travellers, books about facets of our environment, books for cyclists and family adventures, all produced with stunning photos and illustrations. All of their books empower families, groups and individuals to explore, understand and value the land on which they travel.

Themes: Australian mammals.

Fran Knight