Books with title Koala

Cuddly-looking koalas are very appealing, but today koalas are an endangered species. Once hunted for their fur and now deprived of their food supply as forests are cut down for development, koalas are being raised in special parks where they can live in safety. Researched and photographed on location in Australia, Koala includes forty adorable, full-color photographs of these captivating marsupials playing, feeding, resting, and climbing, in captivity and in the wild.

“A powerful story of strength and self-acceptance. . . . The vivid historical setting will leave readers feeling they have experienced life in Kizzy Ann’s world.” — Kirkus ReviewsIn 1963, as Kizzy Ann prepares for her first year at an integrated school, she worries about the color of her skin, the scar running from the corner of her eye to the tip of her smile, and whether anyone at the white school will like her. She writes letters to her new teacher in a clear, insistent voice, asking questions with startling honesty. The new teacher is supportive, but not everyone feels the same. Her brother, James, is having a far less positive school experience, and the annoying white neighbor boy won’t leave her alone. Shag, her border collie, is her refuge, but opportunity continues to clash with obstacle. Kizzy Ann knows she and Shag could compete in the dog trials, but will she be able to enter? From Jeri Watts comes an inspiring middle- grade novel about opening your mind to the troubles and scars we all must bear — and facing life with hope and trust.

“The watercolor illustrations are dramatic, colorful, and attractive. . . . Youngsters will enjoy learning about the marsupial . . . all within a moving tale filled with adventure.” — School Library JournalWhen a young male koala outgrows his mother’s pouch, it’s time to find a new home for himself, braving perils and adventures along the way. Rival koalas, fierce storms, and frightening snakes force Koala to keep moving until he finds a safe place to call his own. In this dramatic nonfiction account, two renowned Australian picture book creators bring us a surprising and authentic look at the ever-popular koala.

In an Australian gum-tree forest, a furry gray animal is taking a nap. It's a koala, and the branches of the gum trees are where the little marsupial makes its home, high above the ground. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of its second-grade audience, this colorful, fact-filled volume introduces young readers to the everyday life of a koala. How is the koala's body adapted to its treetop life? What does the koala eat? How does it move from tree to tree? And how does a female koala keep her tiny joey safe while climbing from tree to tree? Throughout the book, readers are encouraged to make scientific observations based on the book's images and answer questions about koalas' lives and physical characteristics. This innovative approach to teaching about wild animals gives young scientists the chance not only to read and learn the facts, but also to develop their own powers of observation and critical thinking.