Small and Tall Tales of Extinct Animals

Did you know that there used to be GIANT WOMBATS in Australia? Known as Diprotodons, they were as big as rhinos, and they were the biggest marsupials. EVER. 

There also used to be giant echidnas! Three times the size of our current echidnas! 

Turns out that Thylacines weren't particularly fast runners. In fact, they were a little bit clumsy. But they could leap like kangaroos! 

And lemurs the size of humans known as Tratratratras used to live in Madagascar! 

I knew none of these things until I looked through this beautifully illustrated book:

  Small and Tall Tales of Extinct Animals 

by Helene Rajcak and Damien Laverdunt (Gecko Press)

It is my new favourite. While it makes me quite sad that so many extremely fascinating animals are now extinct (many of them because of humans), it is also VERY interesting and complete with great illustrations and informative cartoons. 

Why We Broke Up

Why We Broke Up, Daniel Handler and Maira Kalman (Hardy Grant)

From the genius of Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket...wow!!) teamed with exquisite illustrations by Maira Kalman comes this new Young Adult tale of first-love-heartbreak as Min writes letters to Ed about their relationship and the whole story of why they broke up. 

I am in love with the format of this novel, Maira Kalmans paintings are an added bonus to Daniel Handlers' fabulous and slyly funny story telling.  

The back cover reads 'Min and Ed's Story of Heart Break May remind you of your own'... and it does, in that first love, first heartbreak, impossible teenage romance sort of way. Perfect for teens who are experiencing their first heart ache or anyone really who has every had their heart broken or anyone else who is just a romantic at heart.

You can also find out more at this special website made just for the book, 

The Why We Broke Up Project

and tell your tale of heartbreak too

http://whywebrokeupproject.tumblr.com/

Our Favourite Books

The kids of Yarraville have spoken!