This soft, warm and gentle book introduces us to Barney Gumnut. He’s a koala and lives in Scribbly Gum Forest with his friends who include Hoppity (you might guess this one), Robert (wombat), Wilfred (budgie), Edith (echidna) and Charles (cockatoo).
On a lovely sunny day they are together, not doing much in a ‘nothing-to-do sort of way’. Barney has found a beetle, Robert a butterfly and Charles a grasshopper, which he then loses. When Hoppity collects a bunch of wildflowers they each make themselves a crown of flowers and daisy chains. They look to the sky and see shapes in the clouds. There is a whale, and a galloping horse! When they think one of the clouds looks like Robert he pipes up to say, ‘I’m a hungry cloud.’
They all agree on having a picnic. While enjoying their strawberries drops of rain begin to fall. They throw the blanket over the branches to make a tent for them all to continue their picnic under.
This is a simple story but should not be underestimated. As you turn each page you feel wrapped lovingly in the joy of friendship and being together. The illustrations radiate this sense of love and the joy further, until as you close the book, you’re simply left with a lovely smile on your face.
This is the first in what will be a series. The bar is set high.
Reviewed by Emily Ross
Age Guide 2+
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I was born in the UK, I travelled & moved a lot with my family through my teenage years before going to art college at the Clifton College of Art, Bristol and then to Sydney Place Art College, Bath Uk. I moved to Australia in my 20s and lived in Broome Western Australia for a number of years, and Margaret River, Melbourne & Brisbane before ultimately settling in Murwillumbah, NSW.
I work from my studio in the Northern Rivers, NSW, where I live with my family, two horses, three noisy dogs, lots of chickens and a duck called Lottie who I love very much and who is very loud and loves to tell the world what she is doing all of the time. I spend most of my time drawing, painting, writing and illustrating children’s books, more drawing, printmaking and playing with paper and colour.
My work can be found in children’s books, on book covers, stationery, greeting cards, children’s games and toys, posters, promotional material and in advertising. I have illustrated over 50 books. They are sold all over the world. A number of my books have been translated into different languages including Turkish, French, German and Korean.
I have illustrated the Barney Gumnut and Friends range of Children’s products for Ashdene, which include dinner sets, egg cups, mugs, plates, tote bags, fabric patterns, aprons and more.
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