Sensational Australian Animals

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By: Stephanie Owen Reeder Illustrated by: Cher Hart

eBook - February 2024 - eRetailers

Discover the intriguing and sense-ational things that these Australian animals can do!

Explore the fascinating world of native Australian animals through the five basic senses – sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. + Full description

Covering more than 145 truly astounding animals – from sharp-eyed whale sharks to sticky-bellied green tree frogs – Sensational Australian Animals showcases the strange things these creatures can do with their eyes, ears, noses, mouths and skin! Meet birds that laugh, frogs that quack and fish that sing. Discover mammals that glow in the dark and seahorses disguised as seaweed. Be surprised by turtles that breathe through their bums and squirm at lizards that clean their eyes with their tongues. And then there’s the dangerous creatures that bite and sting!

Be intrigued, amazed and astonished by what insects, birds, spiders, fish and many other animals are capable of!

Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 8 to 12.

Certificate of Commendation, The Royal Zoological Society of NSW 2024 Whitley Awards: Children's Investigative Zoology

- Short description

News

Read more on our blog:
Author Stephanie Owen Reeder shares some of the weird and wonderful superpowers of Australian native animals: Sense-ational Superpowers: Five strange hidden talents of Australian animals.

Reviews

"Wherever you live in Australia – city, bush, rainforest, outback or the beach – there is a host of awesome “sharp-eyed, noisy, smelly, slimy and occasionally dangerous creatures” for you to discover. Without a doubt, this book, recommended for ages 8-12, would be a delight to read and ponder for ages 8-80!"
Wendy Morris, Western Australian Naturalists Club, 29 May 2024

"I thoroughly enjoyed browsing this book. It is designed for readers aged 8-12, but would be a delight for teachers, parents (and grandparents) to read and explore."
Canberra Bird Notes 49(1), July 2024

"This engaging and beautifully illustrated book is a treasure trove of amazing facts that will delight and entertain both young and older readers."
Kathryn Beilby, ReadPlus, 6 February 2024

"A dip-and-delve book that will keep the budding naturalist intrigued for hours, this is most definitely one to add to the collection."
Barbara Braxton, The Bottom Shelf, 20 February 2024

"This new book from Stephanie Owen Reeder is every bit as sensational as the titular creatures!"
Sue Warren, Just So Stories, 14 February 2024

Details

Hardback | February 2024 | $ 29.99
ISBN: 9781486316892 | 64 pages | 280 x 215 mm
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Colour illustrations

ePDF | February 2024
ISBN: 9781486316908
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers

ePUB | February 2024
ISBN: 9781486316915
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers

Features

Highlights the rich diversity of unique and amazing animals that inhabit Australia.
Explores how animals use sight, sound, smell, taste and touch every day, in both expected and unexpected ways.
Showcases over 145 fascinating and intriguing insects, birds, arthropods, mammals, sea creatures and other animals.
Encourages us to explore our world and to appreciate, help conserve and look after our wildlife.

Sensational creatures

The eyes have it!
Magnificent marsupials
Bright-eyed birds
Amazing arthropods
Seaside show-offs
Rad reptiles

Did you hear that?
Boisterous birds
Impressive insects
Marvellous mammals
Full-throated frogs
Singing sea creatures

Follow your nose!
Clever critters
Putrid pongs
Super-sniffers
Peculiar proboscises

That’s tasty!
Fussy feeders
Gross guzzlers
Tasty treats
Unusual utensils

What a feeling!
Biting bugs
Stinging sea creatures
Awesome arachnids
Sensitive skin

Glossary
Animal index
Acknowledgements

Authors

Dr Stephanie Owen Reeder is the author of historical novels and picture books for children, including Swifty: The Super-fast Parrot. She has won the NSW Premier’s History Award and the CBCA Book of the Year Award for information books.

Cher Hart is a nature illustrator, graphic designer and spatial analyst with a background in biology and a sense of fun. She has created scientific communication material for journals, exhibitions and government. This is her first published children’s book.

For Teachers

We have created these Teacher Notes as a free PDF download to support the use of this book in the classroom.

Teacher Notes (391.61 KB)