November 2006

This is a suggested list of mainly non-fiction books about Australian animals for the elementary and the secondary school.  Please take the age levels as a rough guide.

Titles newly included in the list have been marked with •

All prices are in Australian dollars and include 10% GST tax.   However this GST does not apply to exports from Australia.

If you would like to order any of the books on the list, send the orders to Austral Ed by post, fax or by email.  Payment can be made by direct bank transfer or bank cheques in Australian dollars or by Credit card especially for private purchases.   Freight is sent by the most economical method within Australia or overseas, depending on urgency.

Recommended by Kate Shepherd

Gisela Kaplan
Famous Australian Birds  hardback 24.95
This is an extraordinarily informative and entertaining book.  Kaplan is a recognised authority on birds and she also runs a bird rescue centre at her home and so she has many marvellous stories about true life birds that she has cared for.  The unique characteristics and habits of eight species of birds including the emu, magpie, sulphur- crested cockatoo, kookaburra, lyrebird and wedge-tailed eagle are described in lively detail.  Excellent photographs, distribution map, fact files and also glossary and index add to the detailed information in this excellent book.  (8 - 15 years)   

Gerald and Guundie Kuchling
Yakkin the Swamp Tortoise: The Most Dangerous Year   pb $16.95
A beautifully illustrated picture book which describes the first year in the life of a Western Swamp Tortoise hatchling. 
Also Yakkin the Swamp Tortoise: Survival  pb $16.95 
Yakkin grows and matures but there are still many dangers that threaten her existence.  (7 - 10 years)

Helen Manthorpe
Solo Bush Babies:  Kangaroo illus by Yvonne Ashby  pb $15.00
This small novel shaped book with colour illustrations describes how Helen looks after a baby kangaroo called Wally for a few months till he is old enough to go back to the wild.   An inviting story book format which contains a lot of information on the habits of kangaroos.   The language is simple.  Index, glossary and Did you Know section.       (7 - 11 years)

Rodney Martin
Life in a Rainforest: A Tree Top Walk   pb  $7.80   Big Book   $44.95      
Describes the features of a sub-tropical rainforest in northern Australia and some of the flora and fauna that may be seen during a walk that takes readers from the forest floor to the canopy.   (Teacher Notes  pb $13.95)   (6 - 10 years)

Narelle Oliver
Baby Bilby, Where do you Sleep?          pb $15.95
Another of Oliver's beautifully illustrated books on Australian animals.  This one looks at where a number of animals hide and sleep during the day in the desert.   Very simple text.      (6 - 9 years)

Steve Parish
Encyclopedia of Australian Wildlife  by Pat Slater pb $29.95
This encyclopedia contains an astonishing amount of information.   There are sections on Mammals, Birds, Frogs and Reptiles, Insects and Spiders, Marine Life and Fishes.  As well as this it introduces the principles of animal classification and gives a simple overview of Australia's geological and fossil history.   Fascinating additional information is given, as well as maps, a huge number of photographs, a comprehensive glossary and index.     (10 up)

Also  • Junior Encyclopedia of Australian Wildlife  and

• Junior Encyclopedia of Australian Sealife  pb $29.95 each

These two new titles have a similar format and are also very comprehensive but are directed at a slightly younger age group.  (8 – 12 years)

Nature Kids series  pb $9.95 each
Australian Frogs and Reptiles
Australian Sea Life
Australian Marine Fish
Stunning photographs and very simple text in these large format books make them very inviting for young readers.  They are a very good introduction to a wide range of Australian wildlife.  They also contain an Index.   (6 - 9 years)

• Steve Parish Kids  Fact File series pb $10.95 each

Australian Mammals

Australian Birds

Australian Frogs

Australian Reptiles

Australian Sea Critters

Australian Sea Fishes

Australian Sea Mammals

Australian Sharks and Rays

Australian Snakes

Australian Spiders and Insects

A huge amount of interesting information is contained in these inviting books on a wide range of creatures.  Excellent full-colour photographs.   (8 – 12 years)

• Australia’s Animals and Plants in Danger by Jane Pearson hardback $29.95 each

Desert Animals and Plants

Forest Animals and Plants

Marine and Coastal Animals and Plants

Wetland Animals and Plants

Each title in this series describes ten animals and two plants that are in danger.  The threats they face are described as well as the ways people are working to help them survive.    Glossary and index are included.    (8 – 11 years)

Australian Animals series by Kimberley Jane Pryor  hardback $22.95 each

Sharks                                                        Snakes

Wallabies                                                   Cockatoos

Gliders                                                        Frogs

Part of the Macmillan Young Library series, these books contain information on where these animals live, their habits and how they can be protected.  There is an index and excellent photographs.    (6 – 9 years)

Amazing Facts series    Steve Parish    $14.95 each

Amazing Facts about Australian Mammals

Amazing Facts about Australian Birds

Amazing Facts about Australian Frogs and Reptiles

Amazing Facts about Australian Insects and Spiders

Amazing Facts about Australian Marine Life

A huge amount of information is packed into these books.  The introduction explains how animals are named and how the various animal groups fit into the animal kingdom.  Then there is a detailed look at the different types of animals and how they function in their environments.  These are excellent books for browsing and also for children who have a voracious appetite for information about animals.  The book contains a glossary, map, index and a final page called Interwoven Lives which explains how bio-diversity works and how the particular creature fits into the scheme of things.              (9 - 13 years)

Gwen Pascoe and Veronica Jefferis
Deep in a Rainforest     pb $16.95  Big Book $44.95  small paperback $4.95   A beautifully illustrated picture book which shows the colour and beauty of the flora and fauna of the rainforest.   It is also available as a Big Book pb $41.95 and as a small paperback $4.95.       (6 - 9 years)

Greg Pyers

• Finding Out About series  hardback  $29.95 each

Finding Out About Bilbies

Finding Out About Cane Toads

Finding Out About Great White Sharks

Finding Out About Platypuses

This informative series is directed at younger readers.  It describes how we have learnt about these creatures and the very interesting work done by scientists in the field.    (8 – 10 years)

Greg Pyers
Life Cycles of Australian Animals series 

Common Wombat              hardback $29.95   Big Book 44.00                   Echidna              pb $14.95                                         

Emu              hardback $29.95 Big Book $44.00                                       Green Turtle             pb $14.95 Big Book $44.00                     

Koala   hardback $29.95  Big Book $44.00

Lace Monitor    hardback $29.95 Big Book $44.00

Little Penguin   pb $14.95 Big Book $44.00

Redback Spider pb $14.95  Big Book $44.00

Red Kangaroo              hardback $29.95 Big Book $44.00             

Saltwater Crocodile           hardback $29.95 Big Book $44.00                   Seahorse              hardback $29.95 Big Book $44.00                            Spotted Grass Frog   hardback $29.95 Big Book $44.00

Tasmanian Devil      hardback $29.95 Big Book $44.00                        

Wedge-tailed Eagle   hardback $29.95 Big Book $44.00
Clear simply written text describes how these animals live, their habitat, and how they care for their young.  Excellent photographs, Glossary and index and additional facts are also included.         (8 - 11 years).

Greg Pyers
Life in a Desert Dune 
Life in a Creek
Life in a Gum Tree
Life in a Rockpool       hardback $29.95 each
This simply written series describes the kinds of animals living in each different habitat in Australia.  It describes how the plants and animals interact and survive in what is often a very harsh environment.  Glossary and index and excellent photographs.    (7 - 10 years)

Greg Pyers
How Plants and Animals Survive in Australia's Forests 
How Plants and Animals Survive in Australia's Grasslands and Wetlands
How Plants and Animals Survive in Australia's Oceans and Coasts   hardback $29.95 each
These books describe the adaptations that some plants and animals have had to make in order to survive in a variety of habitats.  They also describe their behaviour and reproduction.    An excellent resource for students 9 - 14 years.

Margaret Roc and Kathleen Hawke

• Australian Library series  hardback $29.95 each

Australia’s Critically Endangered Animals

Australia’s Deadly and Dangerous Animals and Plants

These are informative books on popular topics.  They feature maps, photographs and fact files.  (9 – 11 years)

• Amazing Australian Animals series by Barry Silkstone  hardback $29.95 each
Amazing Australian Mammals
Amazing Australian Birds
Amazing Australian Invertebrates
Amazing Australian Reptiles, Fish and Amphibians
Published in 2004, this new series has a double page spread with photos, descriptions, fact File and map of where the animals are found.  The text is clear interesting and simply written.  For children from 7 - 11 years.

Australian Marine Animals Series by Barry Silkstone  hardback $29.95 each     
Marine Sea Birds, Mammals and Reptiles
Crustaceans, Echinoderms and Filter Feeders
Molluscs, Stingers and Worms
The series looks at both vertebrates and invertebrates and includes migratory creatures together with the animals that make their permanent home along the Australian coastline.   Also discusses relationships between living things in an environment and at ecosystems.    (8 - 12 years)

If you would like to order any of the books listed, send orders to Austral Ed by fax, post or by email.     

All prices are in Australian dollars.  Prices include GST of 10% from which overseas International Schools are exempt.

For additional lists of recommended books and newsletters from Austral Ed, visit our website       www.australed.iinet.net

© Kate Shepherd 2008.