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Koala Ark
Through the smoke, in a tiny battered boat, Koala sets out to rescue the billabong friends.
From the multi-award winning author and illustrator who brought you Three, Rainbow Bear and Leaf comes a tale of care, companionship and renewal.
From the multi-award winning author and illustrator who brought you Three, Rainbow Bear and Leaf comes a tale of care, companionship and renewal.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
32 pages, Hardcover
9 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Michael King
135 books31 followersStephen Michael King has illustrated, written, and designed many books for children, including The Duck and the Darklings by Glenda Millard. He lives in Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 30, 2025
The moral of Koala Ark is resilience, kindness, and helping others. It shows the strength of people and animals in tough times and the importance of community and caring for nature.
March 27, 2023
A heartfelt and engaging story of animal rescue after a devastating bush fire - with the animals, led by a koala - being the rescuers of the creatures that inhabit the billabong which is illustrated on the front endpaper. The reader follows the koala, and his boat, and is extended with other floating vessels as he navigates the different waterways and rescues a succession of Australian native animals that have lost their homes, and in some cases are injured - an ark! The closing endpaper is a close up of the Koala Village and and Echidna Island and shows some of the animals encountered on this rescue mission.
Kings' use of watercolur and pencil are perfect for this whimsical interpretation of animal rescue and will engage young readers as they explore the various animals, their plights and their points of rescue by referring back to map. The early pages, in greys and oranges, capture the ferocity of the fire and the damage done. The messages on animal conservation and the effects of natural disasters will also engage older readers and to look beyond this animal perspective as a springboard for serious discussion and investigation.
2023 CBCA Notable title in the Picture Book category.
Kings' use of watercolur and pencil are perfect for this whimsical interpretation of animal rescue and will engage young readers as they explore the various animals, their plights and their points of rescue by referring back to map. The early pages, in greys and oranges, capture the ferocity of the fire and the damage done. The messages on animal conservation and the effects of natural disasters will also engage older readers and to look beyond this animal perspective as a springboard for serious discussion and investigation.
2023 CBCA Notable title in the Picture Book category.
July 20, 2023
A truly Australian story.
Telling about a Koala that runs from a HUGE bushfire, where the sky turns red and everything is burned. The Koala finds animals lost or injured and builds a boat, and off they go into the water to escape the fire. They find other animals along the way, that need saving or that are okay. They all come together, despite the fact that they are different animals, and work together in their little Ark to survive. And finally they return to shore and rebuild.
So reminiscent of so many bushfires experienced in Australia, where the fire came through and everyone had to run in a hurry. The illustrations are beautiful, from the Fire to everything being dark and colourless until the rain comes and new life begins. I really enjoyed reading this to my kids out loud.
Shortlisted for the Speech Therapy Australian Book of the Year Award ages 3-5
Telling about a Koala that runs from a HUGE bushfire, where the sky turns red and everything is burned. The Koala finds animals lost or injured and builds a boat, and off they go into the water to escape the fire. They find other animals along the way, that need saving or that are okay. They all come together, despite the fact that they are different animals, and work together in their little Ark to survive. And finally they return to shore and rebuild.
So reminiscent of so many bushfires experienced in Australia, where the fire came through and everyone had to run in a hurry. The illustrations are beautiful, from the Fire to everything being dark and colourless until the rain comes and new life begins. I really enjoyed reading this to my kids out loud.
Shortlisted for the Speech Therapy Australian Book of the Year Award ages 3-5
October 26, 2022
This is a beautiful book. The story is heartbreaking and the illustrations are stunning. Just beautiful.
October 26, 2022
Beautiful book educating about bushfires and the wonder that is the Australian bush.
February 29, 2024
Beautiful book, beautiful illustrations, beautiful story.
April 2, 2024
The kids loved it and they really reflected on our home and the importance of protecting our habitats and animals
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews