Just So Stories

Hachette

NOV 1, 2023 | 9780734422057 | RRP $19.99

Many readers fell in love with story of alpine dingo, Wandi, and his followers on SM are astonishing in numbers. Now comes the story of Kimmi, the tropical dingo, destined to be the Queen of her mob.

A farmer in their Kimberley homeland has already killed Kimmi’s father, now her mum, Ding, and Aunty Toto, along with her brothers are also under threat. The human who cared for both Ding and Toto in past times, and her little boy, retrieve the dingoes from their den, after one little boy pup is shot, and keep them safe, whilst making alternative arrangements for them to ensure their continued survival.

Ding and Toto are re-located almost 200 kms away, the two little boy pups are sent to the zoo in Darwin, and beautiful Kimmi, goes to the, now famous, Dingo Discovery Sanctuary and Research Centre in Victoria. While Ding and Toto meet with some disasters after deciding their new location is not right, and make their way home despite great odds, Kimmi learns to trust her keeper Lyn, and adjust to life in the sanctuary, where she quickly becomes a star attraction.

Once again Favel has created a narrative non-fiction that will completely capture young readers’ interest, and arouse their compassion. This, along with Wandi‘s story, could easily become the spark that flames young readers into action to support the plight of our native dogs. There are plenty of suggestions on how to do so at the end of the book as well as several pages of solid information from Kevin Newman, Sanctuary Supervisor.

Once,again, the simple line drawing illustrations are just so expressive that they need no embellishment. At less than 150 pages, this would be a quick, but meaningful read, for your kiddos in either classroom or library. I am planning to include it in my relief teaching, especially a full day, and have found several free resources that I can keep in my ‘kit bag’ to capitalise on the children’s interest, along with the teaching notes supplied.

Aside from all that, it is the most delightful package in its compact hardback textured binding, and therefore, not only makes for a super addition to your collection, but would make a very welcome gift to a young animal-lover of your acquaintance.

Stay posted for a forthcoming Q&A with Favel Parrett. I’m looking forward to hearing more about Favel’s involvement with the Dingo Foundation and her volunteer work at the Sanctuary.

It is a beautiful narrative of courage and compassion, survival and saviours, with a strong underlying message about the need to stand up for our native animals, especially this one who has suffered so much bad press.

I highly recommend it to you for your readers from around 8 years upwards,and suggest it, along with Wandi, should form an important component in any curriculum study on Australian animals/Environment and Conservation.

Grab some great free resources: Dingo Den or find out more directly from The Dingo Discovery Sanctuary and Research Centre

Check out more at A-Z of Animals