Bowerbird Blues
Aura Parker
| Publisher: | Scholastic Australia |
| ISBN: | 9781760269609 |
| Awards Year: | 2024 |
| Category: | Picture Book of the Year |
Publisher Link: Scholastic Australia: Bowerbird Blues
Other Link: ALIA: 2024 NSS registration
Blurb
I am a collector. Always looking, finding ... and keeping! Bowerbird loves blue. Magnificent colbalt. Brilliant, vibrant blue! But something is missing. What could it be?
This picture book from Aura Parker stars a beautiful bowerbird on the search for blue! It's a moving story of longing and connection, that unfolds as the bowerbird's search sends him soaring across the sea, sky and city. He swoops and snatches vibrant treasures for his collection, and soon his bower a mix of natural and unnatural objects attracts something greater and more fulfilling than he could ever have imagined. National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is an important annual campaign that aims to encourage young children to read and enjoy books as well as teach them the value of literacy. Now celebrating its 24th successful year and coming off the back of our most successful year yet, we have no doubt that the reading of Aura Parker's Bowerbird Blues will continue to build this wonderful campaign.
Registration for the National Simultaneous Storytime is free and open to all. Join the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and read with Australia, Bowerbird Blues on Wednesday 22nd of May 2024 at 12:00 pm AEST / 2:00 pm NZST. Register on the
The CBCA judges say...
This lyrical story follows the journey of a bowerbird on his quest for all things blue, all the while feeling that something is amiss in his life. The bowerbird’s collection dominated by plastic caps, straws and tags invites reflection on environmental pollution and its challenges. The story’s language is ornate, expressive and rhythmically appealing. Striking illustrations masterfully integrate with the text, significantly enhancing the narrative. The layout and design, including ‘Can you find these?’ sections at the front and back, engage readers and maintain interest throughout. The endpapers are marvellous, introducing the bowerbird in an urban setting before he discovers what’s missing in his life and closing with the bird reclaiming its harmonic existence in a lush forest with a soulmate by its side, illustrating how his life was meant to be.
Teaching Notes for this book...
Scholastic Australia, the publisher, has generously made teaching notes available for this book on their website.
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