Reviews: (by author)

Dale, Kim. What Am I? . Lothian Books, 2000 $A14.95 (paperback) ISBN 0-7344-0125-6.

This is a lift-the-flap book which is designed as a guessing game for pre-school children. It is based on Australian animals and birds and their habitats and features some of Australia's best known and loved creatures, including the emu, echidna, kangaroo and kookaburra. The questions are posed as a rhyme:

"My fur is grey.
My nose is black.
I carry my babies on my back.
What Am I?"

This allows a joining-in by children who are having the story read to them, especially as this is the sort of book they are likely to want to come back to. When the child lifts the flap on each page, the answer to the rhyme is revealed.

Although these rhymes are simple, as befits the intended audience, older children who like animals will also enjoy this book. The illustrations are clear, with appropriate but uncluttered backgrounds. The animals are clear and easily identified. The usefulness of the book is further enhanced by including a double-page spread at the back of the book entitled Fauna Facts, which outlines the habitat, distribution, diet, habits and so forth of each creature. this is valuable for adults reading the book to children and will allow easy answering of the questions which will inevitably arise. In addition, it gives additional interest for slightly older children who want to read the book themselves.

Kim Dale, the author/illustrator of the book, is a well-known wildlife artist as well as being a registered wildlife caregiver - currently caring for a wide variety of birds - and thus is well qualified to produce such a book.

Reading level: 0-5

Reviewed by Margot Hillel

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