Koala

A fabulous addition to the award-winning narrative nonfiction Nature Storybook series, featuring the iconic Australian marsupial – the koala.


It is time for Little Koala to leave the protection of his mother. But many challenges and dangers lie ahead for him as he searches for his own home eucalypt and learns to be independent. During his search he encounters other territorial koalas, wanders through a bushfire-ravaged landscape and endures a night of storms.

Koala is written by award-winning nonfiction picture book specialist Claire Saxby, and illustrated by the much-celebrated Julie Vivas, one of Australia’s premier illustrators.

“Beautifully written, Claire Saxby combines a heartfelt narrative with factual information about the iconic Australian marsupial, on each page. ...A gorgeous publication, Koala is sure to be another success as he finds his own way home, right into the hearts of young Australians.”

Beautifully written, Claire Saxby combines a heartfelt narrative with factual information about the iconic Australian marsupial, on each page. …A gorgeous publication, Koala is sure to be another success as he finds his own way home, right into the hearts of young Australians. Aussie Reviews
Like the other excellent titles in Walker Books’ award-winning Nature Storybooks series, Koala features a winning combination of a compelling and lyrical narrative, accurate facts about an animal’s life history and attractive illustrations. Reading Time
A gorgeous publication, Koala is sure to be another success as he finds his own way home, right into the hearts of young Australians. -- Kids Book Review Kids Book Review
In this dramatic nonfiction account, two renowned Australian picture-book creators bring us a surprising and authentic look at the ever-popular koala. Fascinating facts about koalas are sprinkled throughout the compelling story -- Good Reads Good Reads
Saxby's narrative text is an exemplar of nonfiction writing...likewise, Vivas's illustrations work on two levels: the zoological and the emotive....The whole is an engaging and informative read. Magpies Magazine

Claire Saxby is an award-winning and bestselling picture book author. Two of her previous Nature Storybooks, Big Red Kangaroo (2013) and Emu (2014), both illustrated by Graham Byrne, have won numerous awards, including the Royal Zoological Society of NSW’s Whitley Award. Big Red Kangaroo was a 2014 CBCA Notable Book, and won the CBCA Crichton Award for illustration, and Emu was short-listed for 2015 CBCA Eve Pownall Award and won the Environment Award for Children's Literature. Claire lives in Melbourne, where she works part-time in a bookshop. Her latest books for Walker are Koala (illustrated by Julie Vivas), Bird to Bird (illustrated by Wayne Harris) and Dingo (illustrated by Tannya Harricks).


Julie Vivas is one of Australia's most loved and popular picture book illustrators. Her first picture book, The Tram to Bondi Beach (written by Libby Hathorn), was Highly Commended in the 1982 Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year Awards. However it is for her illustrations in the beloved Australian classic Possum Magic, written by Mem Fox, that she has become most well known. This book was Highly Commended at the 1984 CBCA Picture Book of the Year Awards. In 1990 The Very Best of Friends, Julie’s first picture book with Margaret Wild, won this particular award. Julie has since been short-listed for this award several times. In 1992 she was awarded the Dromkeen Medal for her significant contribution to children’s literature.

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