Bilby Secrets
A narrative non-fiction picture book on the bilby, an Australian marsupial. New paperback edition.
The sun beats down on the red earth of the Australian desert. It is a hostile place to live in. But deep underground, a mother bilby and her baby share the secrets of surviving in this harsh environment.
Creators
Edel Wignell is an Australian freelance writer, compiler and journalist. She has been writing full-time for children and adults since 1979: short stories, articles, verse, novels, scripts and non-fiction. Edel, who has five sisters, grew up on a sheep farm in northern Victoria, becoming interested in animals, birds, nature and the environment at an early age. Edel says that the satisfaction of being a writer comes from both the joy of writing, and the thought that children around the world turn the pages of her books and gain pleasure from reading them.
Mark Jackson is an illustrator based in Melbourne. He has co-illustrated several books with his wife, Heather Potter, and their work has been featured in several exhibitions. Mark has three previous titles published by Walker Books Australia: The Truth About Penguins written by Meg McKinlay, 2010; Not Like Georgie written by Scott Hatcher, 2009; and Stuck! written by Charlotte Calder, 2009, which was short-listed in the Young Children Category of the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards 2010, and received a Notable mention in the Picture Book Category, Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards, 2010.
Reviews
The expressionistic paintings of Bilby are often dramatic, and the little animal is definitely undertreated in American literature.
Bulletin for the Centre of Children's Books
Probably the best illustrations I’ve seen in a while, I absolutely loved the depictions of the Australian landscape and animals. The book is also educational about the bilby and various other Australian animals.
goodreads
Bilby- Secrets of an Australian Marsupial by Edel Wignell, illustrated by Mark Jackson – non-fiction – 2nd grade and up – Really enjoyed reading this beautiful flowing story about a creature I barely ever heard of before… a tail with a barb, digging tunnels, baby care, and more, just fascinating. Also appreciate the organization of the book with extra tidbits of information snuck on some pages in italics and an index at the back… just a wonderful non-fiction animal addition to the collection.
goodreads
This educational and entertaining book will make the perfect gift for readers of all ages at Easter.
Buzz Words
Interesting facts weave through the story, making it fun and educational.
Disney Princess
A beautiful, non fiction account of the life of this remarkable marsupial.
Mother & Baby
The lives of creatures both familiar (hippopotamus) and novel (greater bilby) are presented with charm and appreciation for the full range of behaviours of the animals in their environments.
The Horn Book
The ex- pressionistic paintings of Bilby are often dramatic, and the little animal is definitely undertreated in American literature.
Bulletin for the Centre of Children's Books
