Tag Archives: Platypuses

Nov10

Two Puggles – Michelle Guzel and Andrew Plant

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Ford St

October 2022

ISBN 9781922696168

RRP $16.95

Over the years there have been numerous books about adoption or foster families which, of course, are terrific for both children to whom that applies as well as those who can gain an understanding of the differences in families.

This is a really adorable ‘switched at birth’ story that will have children both fascinated and giggling as the two puggles make quite a surprising discovery.

When they were first hatched Ducky and Spiky looked incredibly alike, and as they got a little bit older and a little more fuzzy they continued to be very similar. But when Ducky got longer and her bill got flatter, and Spiky’s snout got longer and he got…well, spiky – it becomes quite obvious that they are not very alike at all. Regardless, the family goes about it’s daily activities although Spiky is not very good at all with diving and swimming, but is truly excellent at digging. When Spiky meets a new friend who looks exactly Ducky and comments on the pair of them being echidnas, Spiky is baffled. He is not an echidna, he’s a platypus and his new friend is not an echidna either, she is a platypus too. Except ….her mum really IS an echidna. How can this be?

It’s not until Spiky cleverly and bravely protects his new friends from a dangerous feral cat and the two monotreme families all meet each other, that the surprising facts are revealed. As always Andrew’s illustrations are completely sympatico with the text and just a delight to look at.

This is pure good fun but also has such a lovely message about acceptance and unconditional love, which also sends a strong warning about feral cats and the environment.

Highly recommended for little readers from around Prep upwards. I’m looking forward to sharing this one soon.

Aug17

Sleep tight, Platypup – Renee Treml

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platypup

Penguin

February 2019

ISBN: 9780143789697

Imprint: Puffin

RRP: $19.99

I always find something entirely magical about Renee’s books. Both her text and her illustrations are equally charming and so beautifully suited to little readers.

As a child I knew what it was to be afraid of the dark. I did eventually grow out of it (well except for when my daughter tricked me into watching The Sixth Sense because of my Bruce Willis passion) but for many small people those mysterious sounds and shadows of the night can pose a real anxiety.

Little Platypup is one of those youngsters. The weird sounds of the bush outside the burrow are so worrisome and it’s easy to let the imagination run away. But Mother Platypus is both wise and patient and knows exactly how to reassure a little puggle.  Those sounds outside at night are merely the same ones heard through the daytime – it’s just that at night when all is quieter they seem so much more mysterious and queer.

For little humans who are still nervous of night time this is a perfect book to share – and talk about of course. We can’t always address our children’s worries through books but sometimes they are the perfect solution or entrée into assuaging the troubles they face.

Highly recommended for little people from toddlers upwards.