Mystery of the Missing Turtles

Mystery of the Missing Turtles written by Deborah S. Bower, Ricky-John Spencer, Michael B. Thompson, James U. Van Dyke and Elizabeth Hale, illustrated by James O’Hanlon (CSIRO Publishing) HB RRP $26.99 ISBN: 9781486320288

Reviewed by Kellie Nissen

If turtles aren’t already your favourite animal, they will be after reading this book.

Brooke lives on a farm and loves nothing more than exploring the creek where she spends her days watching the skinks, water dragons, rakali and all the other animals and birdlife. But the ones she loves the most are the different types of freshwater turtles.

One day she notices there are plenty of big, old turtles but no babies.

Determined to discover why, she goes exploring, only to discover plenty of nests that all contain broken egg shells. With her father’s help, Brooke sets up a trail camera to try and find out who the thief is.

That night, the camera captures the image of a red fox and Brooke realises she’ll need to do something if she doesn’t want the turtle population to die out.

Inspired by the work of Kamilaroi Indigenous scientist, Dr Brooke Kennedy, Mystery of the Missing Turtles not only brings awareness to the often-unnoticed fate of our wildlife but also shows children that there are things they can do to help – even if it’s only on a small scale at first.

A collaborative effort between researchers, scientists, universities and government departments, this picture book is part of the 1 Million Turtles Program. Beautifully illustrated by James O’Hanlon, the story is both compelling and packed with information, including a detailed backmatter section with everything want to know about Australian turtles (including the fun stuff) and a comprehensive glossary.

CSIRO Publishing has identified Mystery of the Missing Turtles for readers aged 5–9 years (and has comprehensive teaching notes on their website) but I personally think this book is the perfect read for people of all ages who love turtles and care about sustainability and the longevity of Australia’s wildlife.

Sid and the Very Hard to Find Squid

Sid and the Very Hard to Find Squid by James O'Hanlon (CSIRO Publishing)  ISBN   9781486319664 RRP $26.99 (HB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

What is longer than a great white shark, as heavy as a horse, has eyes as big as basketballs but has never been seen alive? It’s the rare and elusive Colossal Squid, and Sid is setting out on a quest to be the first person to spot one.

Sid loves animals of all kinds. He has a list of the ones that are really hard to find, and on the top of his list is the world’s largest invertebrate. Sid knows that to find the Colossal Squid he will need to take a deep dive into the ocean. On his adventure, Sid sees many amazing sea creatures, and he learns that quests are not only about searching for something, but also about the wonderful discoveries that you make along the way.

This book has double value for young readers. It is both a beautifully illustrated picture book with the narrative told in rhyme, as well as a book full of interesting facts about a rare species of squid and about deep-sea exploration. It has been cleverly constructed to ensure that the information does not impose on or disrupt the narrative. The story of Sid’s quest will undoubtedly arouse readers’ curiosity about the Colossal Squid and other deep-sea creatures. So, when they finish reading the story, they can turn the page to read more detailed facts about this fascinating creature and its habitat. There is also a glossary of technical, scientific words used in the book.

Suitable for readers aged 5-9 years, this would be a fantastic resource for classrooms and school libraries. Educators will be pleased to know that teachers’ notes for this book can be found on the CSIRO website.