Bridget Farmer, I am a Magpie I am a Currawong, Bridget Farmer Books, August 2024, 24 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780645713725
This square book is perfectly suited to small hands. Each double page spread presents a native Australian bird. On one side is a (mostly) rhyming couplet that pinpoints one unique feature, and on the other page, an accurate depiction of the bird. The currawong has yellow eyes, the finch a triangle beak, and so on. It is a simple, yet highly effective way to allow very young readers to begin their bird spotting journey.
The illustrations created using traditional printmaking techniques and watercolour paint, beautifully represent the colours and essence of each bird. The rosella page includes the red flowering gum, the tern is surrounded with seashells and the owl, naturally is portrayed with a nighttime mood. The variation of each page highlights the diversity of the bird world.
It is refreshing to see a book on the Eve Pownall Short List that targets a very young age group, as it has often been dominated by factual texts for much older children and young adults.
Reviewed by Trish Buckley
