Backyard

by Ananda Braxton-Smith, Lizzy Newcomb (Illustrator)

In Backyard, critically acclaimed Australian author Ananda Braxton-Smith and fine artist Lizzy Newcomb team up to present a lush, lyrical picture book about all the life that children can find in a suburban backyard.

White gum rustle, tawny frog mouths still as wood, dragonflies swoop. Banjo frog calls the secret – watch the world carefully, your backyard is home to animals other than you! A child stands on her back step at dusk and surveys her backyard. The backyard is teeming with life - birds, possum, native rat, bats, insects and bugs.

*A reminder to look closely at the world around you which is very much aligned with current educational philosophy.

*Reconnecting children with their very own natural environment in the most gentle and beautiful way.

*Australian wildlife

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2018

About the author

Ananda Braxton-Smith is a journalist and children’s writer who is passionate about communicating history to young people in new and innovative ways.

Reviews

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the concept of this book, using the familiarity of a yard, albeit a rather special back yard that has a stream in it.
The text is spare and reads well. It has a gentle, lyrical feel to it. I really loved the image of ‘tawny frogmouths still as wood.’ An effective description, given the way they sit so still and blend in. And I loved the idea of
‘with lamp-eyes lighting
tiny movement everywhere.’
The tawny frog mouth pages are two of my favourites, both for the poetic text and the perfect illustrations.
I did wonder though about the reason for the inclusion of so many hyphenated words e.g. ‘Sleep-moony, star-eyed, sweet-tooth, cool-change, last-light, and moon-shiny.’
From its stunning cover and end papers covered in leaves and flowers, this book is a visual treat. Another favourite is that of the frogs and water lilies. This double page spread, which also graces the cover, is stunning. I love the colour of the dragon fly which is on the cover, although not on the scene of this page inside the book
This is a book that parents will enjoy reading and talking about with children, maybe even seeing how many of these creatures exist in their own back yards. Techers will find it an excellent aid for teaching about the natural habitat of insects and small creatures. It is good to see a book set in a back yard, something many children can relate to.
Thanks to Black Dog books, for my copy to read and review.

[Dimity Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captivating language coupled with illustrations that flood the senses on every page will have youngsters revisiting this celebration of creatures great and small again and again.

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful addition to any Australian classroom. The text and images bring to life the Australian backyard, a landscape of diverse flora and fauna. It could be any city in Australia and any child and dog that peacefully sits on the back steps and observes the environment; and what a diverse and extraordinary environment it is! The text is lyrical and expressive, “Mosquito in the stream, singing of sweet blood” and “Water-dragon swinging with lazy Jurassic claws”. We loved the broad brushstrokes of Lizzy Newcomb’s acrylic paintings which perfectly complement the text. It is a lovely reminder to go outside and be part of your surroundings and
appreciate what is in your own backyard.

Classroom ideas: http://classroom.walkerbooks.com.au/h...

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the concept of this book and loved the illustrations. Felt the words were unnecessarily complex and hard to say. Mr 6 liked reading this at school though and I love that it’s an Australian backyard

[Lara Bate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about things you can see in the backyard.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice selection of animals