The Little Corroboree Frog – Tracy Holton-Ramirez & Angela Ramirez
Magabala Books
December 2013
ISBN:9781921248818
Paperback 32 p.
RRP $14.95
When I was living and teaching in Canberra, we had a very engaging Unit of Inquiry for the Year 1s to begin their research skills and report writing based around the Corroboree Frog. Until that point I was pretty much unaware of these gorgeous little animals and their very precarious grip on survival but soon became quite intrigued. I remained disappointed not to have seen a real one but have discovered much information about them.
One of the problems with delivering the unit was that there was very little material written for younger students. This little book while written as fiction contains a wealth of information and is presented at a very accessible level for Lower Primary children.
Jet the corroboree frog is anxious about his family’s eggs being threatened despite all his efforts to tend the tadpole ponds. When he seeks advice from Grandmother Frog he realises the dangers that are undermining the survival of his species – particularly those caused by humans. A little boy and his father who happen to be visiting his region to go fishing in the nearby river present the perfect chance for Jet to initiate some change in human thinking and action.
This is a really simply written ecological tale and achieves its goal without being ‘preachy’. A lovely double page spread at the end gives readers lots of facts and figures as well as links for further investigation.
Very much worth inclusion on your shelves and a book to share with all little people who love animals of all kinds, even teeny little clammy ones.
Loads of reference sites and film clips available:
Corroboree Frogs: Taronga Conservation Society
Postscript: October 2014 Congratulations Tracy, Angela and Magabala on the Whitley Award from the Royal Zoological Society of NSW!
Sounds wonderful and children need this kind of education, I love the illustration on the cover too.