Bouncing Back

Cover featuring an illustration of an Eastern Barred Bandicoot on a tree stump in a rubbish tip

Enlarge cover

An Eastern Barred Bandicoot Story

By: Rohan Cleave Illustrated by: Coral Tulloch

eBook - April 2018 - eRetailers

A beautifully illustrated story of this marsupial's plight and how it was saved from extinction.

The Eastern Barred Bandicoot is one of Australia's most threatened species. When their existence came under extreme threat from habitat loss, predators and human development, Eastern Barred Bandicoots found refuge in the most unlikely of places – a rubbish tip. This captivating true story details the plight these small, nocturnal marsupials faced, and the outstanding efforts that ensured their protection. Written by Rohan Cleave and illustrated by Coral Tulloch, Bouncing Back shows that even on the brink of extinction, there is hope for the survival of our most vulnerable species. + Full description

Rohan Cleave and Coral Tulloch's first book, Phasmid: Saving the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect, won a Whitley Award for Children's Natural History Book and was an Honour Book in the Children's Book Council of Australia Book Awards (Eve Pownall Information Book category).

Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 6-9.

Winner, The Wilderness Society’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature 2019: Non-Fiction
Shortlisted, The CBCA Eve Pownall Award for Information Books 2019

- Short description

News

Head to our blog to read our Q&A with illustrator Coral Tulloch about her inspirations and creative process.

Reviews

View the media release for Bouncing Back (PDF)

"Beautifully written by Rohan Cleave and illustrated by Coral Tulloch, this 32-page book is an educational and joyous read." 4.5 Stars
Isabella Duffy, Double Helix magazine, April 2018

"Put this book in the hands of young children and they will fall in love with Coral Tulloch’s soft and lifelike full-page illustrations of these little bandicoots and want to help to ensure a safe future for them." 5 stars
Merle Morcom, Good Reading magazine, October 2018

"This story, although long, is engaging and children will be happy to know that there is a happy ending – even if there is still a lot of work to be done. Facts and a glossary are added to the end of the story and the endpapers are a fantastic tool for conversation!!"
Vanessa Ryan, Educate.Empower. blog, 24/4/18

"Coral Tulloch’s illustrations broaden the context of the EBB’s habitat and ecology for readers, and do justice to a very charming animal... As an account of a species recovery program that has met with some success, Bouncing Back may be an uplifting choice for primary level science and environmental studies."
Julie Murphy, CBCA Reading Time, 21/7/18

"Bouncing Back: An Eastern Barred Bandicoot Story contains the vital threads of good story telling. It certainly captured the interest of my students, raising as many questions as it answered. There is much to recommend this book as a welcome addition to a public or school library."
David Keystone, Teaching Science magazine 2019

Details

Features

Remarkable story of a charismatic marsupial saved from the brink of extinction by an outstanding team effort
From the author and illustrator of the 2016 CBCA-shortlisted Phasmid: Saving the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect
The Eastern Barred Bandicoot is one of Zoos Victoria's 21 priority species. You can visit them in the Bandicoot Hideout at Werribee Open Range Zoo.

Authors

Rohan Cleave is a zookeeper at Melbourne Zoo, where he has been involved in the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect recovery breeding program since 2003. He now manages the program at Melbourne Zoo. His first book, Phasmid was a CBCA Honour Book and was shortlisted for The Wilderness Society's Annual Environment Award for Children's Literature.

Coral Tulloch is an award-winning illustrator who has worked on close to 60 fiction and non-fiction books for children, both in Australia and internationally.