Australian animal toys are not just cute and cuddly creatures for children to play with, but can engage and entertain kids too. Role playing with a kangaroo or koala stuffed toy to tell stories can help to make children’s books like ‘Koala Lou’, ‘Mother Koala knows best and other Australian Animal Stories’ or ‘Baby Koala Rescue’ come to life.
Sharing a story with your child’s soft and cuddly Australian animal plush toy can help child development and improve your child’s reading, communication and vocabulary skills. A much loved wombat or echidna toy could be the perfect learning companion for children to practice their reading and storytelling skills. And if your child has an interest in Australian animals, then children’s books that feature an Australian wildlife theme are the perfect book to entertain them.
We’ve compiled a selection of some our favorite story books for children featuring some of our favourite cute and cuddly Australian animals. Children can experience story time together with their beloved emu toy or possum puppet and take them along on their imaginative adventures as they turn the pages of these Australian wildlife theme children’s books.
Possum Magic
Written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Julie Vivas
Grandma Poss uses her best bush magic to make Hush invisible. But when Hush longs to be able to see herself again, the two possums must make their way across Australia to find the magic food that will make Hush visible once more.
Koala Lou
Written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Pamela Lofts
In this beautifully illustrated and fun-filled picture book, a young koala competes for her mother’s heart when a new sibling is on the way–only to discover that families come in all shapes and sizes, and that there is no second place when it comes to love. Perfect for growing families or as a baby shower gift.
When Koala Lou’s mother becomes so busy that she forgets to tell her firstborn how much she loves her, Koala Lou enters the Bush Olympics, intending to win an event and her mother’s love all at one time.
Wombat Stew
Written by Marcia K. Vaughan and illustrated by Pamela Lofts
One day, on the banks of a billabong, a very clever dingo caught a wombat… and decided to make… Wombat stew, Wombat stew, Gooey, brewy, Yummy, chewy, Wombat stew!
In this classic Australian picture book, a dingo catches a wombat and wants to cook him in a stew. But all the other bush animals have a plan to save their friend. They trick the dingo into using mud, feathers, flies, bugs and gumnuts in his stew, and the result is something the dingo will never forget!
Edward the Emu
Written by Sheena Knowles and illustrated by Rod Clement
Tired of his life as an emu, Edward decides to try being something else for a change. He tries swimming with the seals, he spends a day lounging with the lions, and even slithers with the snakes. But Edward soon discovers that being an emu may be the best thing after all.
This picture book is an excellent choice to share in the classroom or at home—both adults and kids will laugh at and sympathize with Edward the Emu.
Dingo Dog and the Billabong Storm
Written by Andrew Fusek Peters and illustrated by Anna Wadham
The Bush animals are fed up of Dingo dog’s bullying and generate a storming idea to teach him a lesson. This traditional Australian ‘Tale with a Twist’ is retold by poet, author and storyteller, Andrew Fusek Peters, and delightfully illustrated by Anna Wadham. Tales from around the world provide an insight into cultures other than our own.
Wombat Big, Puggle Small
Written by Renée Treml
Join in the mischief as a little wombat and an echidna puggle play with opposites and word pairs. This beautiful new board book by Renée Treml features her trademark gentle, playful rhymes, and stunning illustrations of Australian animals.
Clancy the Quokka
Written by Lili Wilkinson and illustrated by Alison Mutton
Here’s Clancy the quokka. So friendly and charming. His innocent face is entirely disarming.
Clancy the Quokka is super cute, but also has a super cheeky habit of raiding picnic food, so when he spots a magnificent birthday cake, how can he resist? After the mayhem he creates, will Clancy learn his lesson?
A funny and thoroughly entertaining picture book featuring one of Australia’s most loved animals.
Quoll
Written by Sandra Kendell
When quoll has a chance encounter with a cane toad she realises that she must get her family away to safety. A fictional story inspired by the Island Ark program in the Northern Territory where quolls have been removed from the mainland (where they are prey for cane toads) and transported to two remote islands off Arnhem Land where they are now thriving.
ABC of Australian Animals
Written and illustrated by Bronwyn Bancroft
This book is both a delightful introduction to the alphabet, and a unique exploration of Australian wildlife—some familiar, others more unusual—as seen through the eyes of an indigenous artist. Animals include: kangaroo, bandicoot, wombat, echidna, cockatoo, frog and goanna—and many more.
The Enormous Crocodile
Written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake
The Enormous Crocodile is a horrid greedy grumptious brute who loves to guzzle up little boys and girls. But the other animals have had enough of his cunning tricks, so they scheme to get the better of this foul fiend, once and for all!
The Croc and the Platypus
Written by Jackie Hosking and illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall
An Australian reimagining of Edward Lear’s nonsense poem The Owl and the Pussycat.
The croc and the platypus trundled off in a rusty old Holden ute. They took some damper and tea in a hamper and bundled it up in the boot.
The Kookaburra Who Couldn’t Laugh
Written by Robert Cox and illustrated by Jim Robins
A brand new Australian picture book about a little kookaburra who couldn’t do what kookaburra’s are supposed to do – laugh Fitting in is often difficult for children just as it is for Bridget. She overcomes this by laughing at herself even though she gets a bump on the head in the process. Beautiful watercolour illustrations.
Somewhere in Australia
Written by Marcello Pennacchio and illustrated by Danny Snell
Somewhere in Australia, in a land of scorching sun, lived a mother kangaroo and her little joey one. Hop, said the mother. I hop, said the one, as they hopped over land scorched by the hot sun. Join the little joey and many more familiar animals in this glorious Australian counting book based on the classic rhyme Over in the Meadow.
