Reviewed by Dannielle Viera
From dawn to dusk and throughout the night, many different beasties appear in suburban backyards. Bats, cats and dogs, as well as more unusual animals – such as bobtail lizards and quendas (a type of bandicoot) – all call our gardens home from time to time. And if we look carefully, there are ‘many more still to be found’.
A descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region in Western Australia, Helen Milroy brings a heightened awareness of nature to her stunning book. She captures the sights and sounds of the backyard – from clucking chickens to croaking frogs – in simple rhyming text that will appeal to babies and toddlers.
Bold colours and striking Indigenous patterns form the basis of Helen’s eye-catching illustrations. Yellows, oranges and reds reflect the hues of the outback, while deep blues and greens add a refreshing coastal contrast to the book. Small eyes will lap up the detailed dots and lines in the vivid designs.
Printed
in a small format that is perfect for little hands, Backyard Beasties will be a much-loved addition to any young
child’s library. The brilliant blend of colours, couplets and creatures is sure
to intrigue kids again and again.
