Tippy and Jellybean – The True Story of a Brave Koala who Saved her Baby from a Bushfire by Sophie Cunningham
Illustrated by Anil Tortop
Published by Allen & Unwin
Date: 16 June 2020
R.R.P. $19.99
I love sharing books that support a cause, and when they are based on a true story, there is something pretty special about it. Tippy and Jellybean will warm the hearts of many Australians because it will be familiar and something they have seen before their very eyes not that long ago. Sophie has done this story in a sensitive way where children will understand the danger Tippy and Jellybean were in, but without making them feel afraid.
This beautiful story follows Tippy and her baby Jellybean who live in a beautiful forest with tall and scrumptious gum trees. They had many friends, possums, snakes and wallabies, to name a few but one day they wake up to a hot and windy day with smoke in the air. Tippy, who is a wonderfully caring mother, protect her baby Jellybean from the smoke and fire until they get rescued and cared for in a sanctuary where they get to eat lots of gum leaves and grow healthy and strong. This story follows Tippy and Jellybean right up until they are rehomed back into the forest.
This book is inspired by real koalas Tippy and Jellybean, and in the rear of the book, there are two photos of them and the opportunity to find out more information about helping the koalas through a web link.
The illustrations have been beautifully done by Anil Tortop and really captures the fire and smoke well without making it scary for children.
I like the use of words like brave and explain what the carers do to get the koala’s to be healthy and well again. Sophie doesn’t shy away from explaining that Tippy has burns, but they also show that she heals from them.
This is an uplifting story that will help children understand the impact that fire has on our wildlife.
Good news is that for every book sold the publisher will donate $1 to the Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund.
Thank you Allen & Unwin for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.
Little Big Reads 