Unique and Funny Aussie Animals

By Sharon Giltrow

Waterhole - a place in a hot country where animals go to drink (Oxford Learner’s Dictionary)

Australia is a hot country and home to many unique and funny animals. Animals that are one of a kind and unlike any other animals. This is because Australia’s ecosystem evolved in isolation from the rest of the world. It is also, (apart from Antarctica) the driest continent in the world. In the unique and humorous book WHEN THE WATERHOLE DRIES UP, these two themes Aussie animals and water (lack of) are combined.

 When the Waterhole Dries Up
Written by: Kaye Baillie
Illustrated by: Max Hamilton
Published by: Windy Hollow Books, March 2021,
It's bath time in the outback. So many bubbles, and so many...ANIMALS! Will this boy ever get clean? A rollicking tale about togetherness and fun.

 Here’s what Kaye finds funny about this page.

K- 'Close up of Chaos' - I laugh every time I see the emu surrounded by chaos. I especially like how the emu looks directly at the reader as if to say, this is all too much.

This spread is an excellent example of how to add humour, by letting the illustrations speak.

 K- 'When Dingo Joins In' - I love how the boy looks shocked when the dingo joins in the fun. This is a cumulative story, so the humour builds through the illustrations as each new animal increases the chaotic bathroom scene.

In this spread Kaye builds up the story by, adding on and repeating previous information. With each new animal adding more humour to the scene. This repetition and Kaye’s use of alliteration makes this story such fun to read.

Well, that’s it from me this month, see you in May, with another great Aussie book.
 
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GIVEAWAY
For a chance to win a copy of WHEN THE WATERHOLE DRIES UP

1. Comment on this blog post
2. Share this blog post on social media #WhenTheWaterHoleDriesup
3. Follow Sharon on twitter
4. The winner will be announced on twitter on Monday 3rd May
   

BIO
Sharon Giltrow grew up in South Australia, the youngest of eight children, surrounded by pet sheep and fields of barley. She now lives in Perth, Western Australia with her husband, two children and a tiny dog. Sharon has taught for all of her career. Previously a teacher of children who are hearing impaired and Deaf-Blind, she now teaches young children with Developmental Language Disorder. Her humorous debut PB BEDTIME DADDY! released May 2020 through EK books. Sharon’s humorous follow up PB GET READY, MAMA! Is due to be released through EK books in 2022. Awarded the Paper Bird Fellowship for Writers in 2019. Sharon used this time to write her early middle grade book SAMARA RUBIN AND THE UTILITY BELT. To be released in 2021 through Clear Fork Publishing’s new imprint &MG. Sharon is also a Blogger for the Children’s Book Academy,