Scholastic Australia
September 2026
ISBN: 9781761727252
ISBN-10: 1761727257
RRP: $19.99
It’s not just that Aura’s books are so gorgeously pretty although, truthfully, they are top of the tree in that respect. But this beautiful Bowerbird series has so much to offer our Smalls in the way of thinking more deeply about certain aspects of life. In this case, the focus is on creativity (something that Aura excels in!) and collaboration.
When little bowerbird is frightened almost out of its feathers by a powerful owl (and really, what little animal would not be?) the first instinct is to hide, to be safe and to not risk being so frightened again. But then, the realisation that nobody wants to live in fear so little bowerbird comes up with a plan. And it’s a great plan.
The bowerbird brood work together: scouring, collecting, and collaborating to collectively construct a fail-safe powerful owl preventative. And it sure works! which means not only is the bowerbird brood safe from the predator but also the other small bush creatures.
And how very timely is it at a juncture when our creators and all of us are faced with the ever-increasing intrusion of AI into all arenas but particularly robbing creativity, that we should be pulling out all-stops to encourage our kiddos to be brave and be creative. To take a stand and say no! we will not be intimidated and we will not lose sight of what makes us all human. And thankfully many educational administrations are taking a stance – now for the rest to catch up!
It’s a delight from start to finish with Aura’s always amazing artwork – oh! the endpapers! my heart sings! – and the details that make them zing to life. The patterns, the shifting colour palette to show the reader the changing time of day, the search for hidden Easter eggs as always – all of these add up to another scrummy package for Smalls from around the Prep stage upwards easily to Year 3.
It’s a wonderfully happy 5 💛🧡💛🧡💛 rating and quite naturally a must have to follow on from the first three.
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