Thursday, 10 July 2025

Rakali of the Riverbank.


Rakali of the Riverbank.
Stephanie Owen Reeder. Illustrated by Rachel Gregg (CSIRO Publishing 2025). ISBN 9781486317547.  Hardback picture book 32 pages RRP $26.99

Reviewed by Debra Williams

As the sun sets, Rakali prepares to patrol the riverbank. He is on a mission to fill his belly, protect his pups and keep his home safe. But he must face feral foxes, disease-carrying black rats and toxic cane toads.

This engaging picture book reveals the day-to-day life, threats and battles of the nocturnal, aquatic, Australian native water rat, with facts about the species, including tips on how to identify and help protect them. Rakali is one of the only two amphibious mammals in Australia.

Beautifully illustrated, young readers will love this non-fiction book, which encourages conservation of our aquatic habitats and the native creatures that call them home. The book’s themes are habitats and ecosystems, animal parenting and invasive species.

There are Teacher Notes available, aligned to the Australian Curriculum, free to download from the CSIRO Publishing website: https://publish.csiro.au/book/8115/#forteachers  

The recommended reading level for this book is ages 5 to 9 years.

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