A Whale of a Time

Book 5 bindi Wildlife Adventures

written by Chris Kunz

Random House. Australian, Junior. Paperback rrp $9.95


With her second series of four books in the bindi Wildlife Adventures, Bindi Irwin is ensuring that young children learn about the importance of protecting fragile animal habitats.

In A Whale of a Time Bindi introduces her two English friends to the sights of Australia. Bindi surprises the twins, Andy and Caitlin, by taking them whale watching off the Queensland coast, south of the Great Barrier Reef.

Andy suffers sea sickness and Caitlin has images of pirates floating through her mind, but the day begins well with a whale and her calf coming to play near the three friends’ boat.

Disaster strikes when a fishing trawler gets into trouble. An overboard fisherman is rescued but the friends soon find that there are far worse problems at sea. A ship is leaking oil and it isn’t the fishing trawler or Bindi’s boat. Where is it coming from? The whales are heading right for the slick.

Not only is A Whale of a Time a great adventure story for ages 6 to 12 but a useful source of whale information. I never knew whales birth in warmer waters and stay until their young develop enough blubber for them to survive the icy waters of the south. Educational and factual, these books will be popular in every primary school library.

The Reading Stack reviewed Book 1, Trouble at the Zoo in August 2010.

http://www.crocodilehunter.com.au/crocodile_hunter/about_steve_terri/bindi_say.html

Trouble at the Zoo

bindi Wildlife Adventures

by Bindi Irwin

Random House. Children’s Fiction, Australian. Paperback rrp $9.95


Bindi Irwin is a remarkable eleven-year-old who has seen a lot more than most of us ever will. She has had the unique opportunity to grow up amongst the greatest creatures of Australia and the world.

In the first of this eight book series, Bindi is holding her birthday party at the family’s zoo. Everyone at the zoo is invited. It all seems to be going to plan for the fun underwater-themed party but there is one guest who isn’t happy about being there.

Zac is also celebrating his birthday today but because of his younger sister, he has to spend his tenth birthday at Australia Zoo when he could have been spending it with his mates. What could be more boring! The only good part is that Zac likes lizards.

He thinks that one of the Australia Zoo’s lizards may just be the perfect present for himself.

Bindi’s brother, Robert is always watching. Luckily, Bindi rescues what could have been an unfortunate experience for Zac, and finally gets him to smile.

Trouble at the Zoo is a light read for children, sending a positive message about the environment and animal welfare. I would recommend this book for all primary school libraries throughout Australia.

http://www.crocodilehunter.com.au/crocodile_hunter/about_steve_terri/bindi_say.html