Looking for some uniquely Tasmanian content to share with young ones this Christmas? Bronwyn, from The Hobart Bookshop, presents an array of newly released and glorious information books that celebrate Tasmania.
One of the best things about working in The Hobart Bookshop is getting to meet people from all over the world — travellers, students, and families who’ve come to Tasmania to experience its magic. Everyone is drawn here for different reasons, but the common themes to most people’s interests are our wildlife and natural environment.
For those of us lucky enough to live here, it’s easy to take for granted the potoroos in our gardens or the auroras that grace our skies. But Tasmania’s unique creatures and natural wonders deserve to be celebrated — and this November, several new books are doing just that.
Monica Reeve, whose Feathered Alphabet was shortlisted for the Tasmanian Premier’s Award, returns with Wild About Tasmania. This delightful new book explores the diverse habitats of Tasmania’s furry, feathery, and scaly residents. Also celebrating our native animals, artist, author, and biologist Johanna Simkin brings her expertise and creativity together in Wild Tasmania, an illustrated nonfiction book bursting with facts about the island’s creatures — from Weedy seadragons to pademelons and, of course, Tasmanian devils.
You may have noticed that quolls are having a well-deserved moment in the spotlight, gracing the covers of both the new releases listed above. We must also highlight Christopher Cheng’s Quoll released earlier this year which tells the story of the Eastern Quoll. This species is native to Tasmania and is now present on the mainland, but only due to the population being reintroduced to the area. Written in narrative nonfiction style, it pairs beautifully with Claire Saxby’s much-loved Tasmanian Devil. These books are all brilliant resources about our native wildlife.
Anne Morgan and Lois Bury, the creative duo behind The Way of the Weedy Seadragon, return with another gem — a joyful story in which children dress up as native Tasmanian birds to attend a ball. This is a book that aims to inspire children to learn about the wild birds of their local environments.
Tasmania’s connection to nature also extends beyond the land and one way to interact with our marine environment is by engaging in the outdoor sport of surfing. Tasmanian Big wave surfer Marti Paradisis, author of When the Ocean Awakens, has now written Lenny the Shredder, a picture book about a boy learning to surf — and to respect the ocean. Importantly, it includes a section on ocean safety, a topic rarely covered in children’s books.
Rounding out this wonderful collection is Roy G. Biv (yes, a playful pseudonym based on the RGB colour scheme), whose illustrated poetry book explores the science and wonder of rainbows. This book, due to be released in late November, continues the trend of combining narrative with nonfiction, exploring the science of rainbows and encouraging curiosity about the natural world. A perfect reminder by another Tasmanian author that science and poetry often share the same spark of curiosity.
Together, these new releases celebrate our local environment, creatures, and the curiosity that defines Tasmania. They remind us that the best way to connect with our island — and to protect it — is to keep learning, reading, and sharing its stories.
Bronwyn Chalke
The Hobart Bookshop
W: https://www.hobartbookshop.com.au/
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