Just So Stories

For those of us who have loved Tim Winton’s Blueback since it was first released in 1997 [can you believe that?? eek!], the Ningaloo reef and the continuing struggle to preserve it has always been an issue of real concern. Even The Kid has taken interest since first seeing the film version of Blueback a couple of years ago [a worthy adaptation btw] and all these many years on, this fragile environment is still in danger of devastation. Now I have two books to share with you – very different in concept – but both about this astonishingly beautiful and unique Australian treasure.

The Ng in Ningaloo – Judith Barker. Illustrated by Janie Frith.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ WOODSLANE PRESS
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ 20 November 2024
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1922800783
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1922800787
• RRP: $16.99

This is one of those super-useful teachiNG books that explore a phoneme, in this case ‘NG’ by embeddiNG it into a narrative non-fiction that is both engagiNG and enlighteniNG. The rhyming text is accompanied by absolutely stunniNG illustrations (very reminiscent of Eric Carle’s work) taking kiddos on an exploratory dive into the reef with all its inhabitants and deep secrets. Learn more about Janie Frith’s style – what a splendid follow-up it would be to take the next step and have your kiddos create their own similar artworks with some ‘NG’ words as captions. It’s a certain winner from all points of view and I happily give it a 5 🪸🪸🪸🪸🪸rating.

Ningaloo: Australia’s Wild Wonder – Tim Winton and Cindy Lane

Publisher: Fremantle Press

ISBN: 9781760995324

October 2025

RRP: AU $29.99/NZ $37.00

And now from the Master himself – and following up from his acclaimed documentary series Ningaloo Nyinggulu – ABC iview – this absolutely beautiful encyclopedia of all things Ningaloo and celebrating Winton’s 25 years of celebrating and defending the reef.

I’m no diver [and I’m sure there are plenty who are and those who will claim superiority because of that] but I am a passionate defender of our ecosystems and, in particular, due to my having lived by the sea for many years, a committed conservationist of our marine habitats, [including the marine reserve at the end of our street].

Just take a peek inside via the link above. There’s the overview of the reef and what a reef is, and its World Heritage listing. There’s the surrounding geography of the Cape Range and the Exmouth Gulf. Then there’s the various ‘communities’ including: mangrove, seagrass, karst, intertidal and fossil reef. There are spreads of individual creatures plus snapshots of more and then, there is the human history of the Traditional Custodians. The whole concludes with a section on protecting the reef and how to take action, plus backmatter of a glossary and index.

All in all, this is a major player in your collection to examine one of our most rare and special geographical areas, and to inspire your readers to take up their environmental warrior capes and dress for the future. An unreserved 5 🪸🦈🐠🐙🐳rating. It is without question a must-have for your collection and would also make a superb gift for a kiddo in your circle with a deep interest in marine life and ecology.