(November 2019, National Library Publishing, $24.99, hard cover 9780642279545, paperback 9780642279767)
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WINNER: ACT Writing and Publishing Awards, 2020
WINNER: Museums Australasia Multimedia & Publication Design Awards, 2020
SHORTLISTED: Educational Publishing Awards Australia, 2020
SHORTLISTED: Environmental Award for Children's Literature 2020, The Wilderness Society
LONGLISTED: World Illustration Awards 2020, Children's Books, Australia/NZ
LONGLISTED: Australian Book Design Awards 2020, Children's Non-Fiction
LONGLISTED: Booktopia's Australian Book of the Year 2019, Children's Non-Fiction
COVER ARTWORK: Hello from Australia! Bologna 2020 Catalogue
Did you know that platypus have retractable webbing on their hind feet to enable an easy transition from swimming to digging?
In Fauna: Australia's Most Curious Creatures, readers are constantly introduced to facts that delight, amaze and induce sheer wonder at the clever design and adaptability of our much-loved native fauna.
The information on each individual species is presented in small 'bites' to hold the interest of younger readers, while the information taken in total gives a comprehensive summary of each species, including breeding and feeding habits, physical characteristics, habitat and other unique and quirky features.
Fauna also has a strong conservation message with an 'extinction roll call' and a rating for the vulnerability of endangered species.
The stylised illustrations in Fauna are lively, colourful and informative, highlighting facts that lend themselves more to pictures than words e.g. the actual size of crocodile teeth, or the mechanics of the echidna's beak. There is also humour in the illustrations - is that kangaroo with dark glasses actually from a different kind of mob?
The layout and illustrations in this exquisite nonfiction title once again portray McCartney’s talents for design ... this book will capture the eye with its gorgeous illustrations, share some brilliant facts about Australia’s animals, and also teach us awareness so perhaps we can safeguard these curious creatures... - Readings
Wow! What an achievement. How I wish I had such a book as a child. Beautifully put together, engaging, funny, informative, this book belongs in every classroom and every home. It really is most impressive. Congratulations to Tania and NLA publishing on a spectacular book. - Jackie Hosking, Pass It On
Fauna by the uber talented, Tania McCartney, is bristling, swimming and crawling with colour and fact... There is SO MUCH information here, all descriptive and utterly captivating and none of it too overwhelming for the junior zoologist to assimilate... Fauna is true a work of art married with instruction that I can’t recommend highly enough. - Dim's Write Stuff
The use and placement of colourful and unusual diagrams and illustrations really support the text to bring each species alive to the reader... The title cover gives a good example of the artistic quality of the book... Fauna has much wonderful information to amaze and engage the young (and old) reader. - ReadPlus
The design of the page layouts is varied, helping to make reading Fauna an interactive experience... Perfect for animal lovers, as an Australia-themed souvenir or gift, or for school projects. If you want to learn about some of Australia's most unique and curious creatures, you can't go past Fauna. - Kids' Book Review
Usually books about this topic can be dry and cold, but the combination of text and illustration that is so uniquely McCartney make this warm and engaging and one to treasure. She has called is 'a labour of love' and that shines through. - The Bottom Shelf
I love Tania McCartney's work, so I was pretty sure I would love this... Now it has arrived and I absolutely love it. It's just my kind of information book. Beautiful to look at, with bite sized facts across each double page spread. - What's Rebecca Reading?
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| Click the poster to see the full Bologna 2020 catalogue |
Teaching Notes
