When I came to Australia way back in 2003, I didn’t know any better… and was put in my place by a 6 year old girl.  “Is that a gum tree?  Would there be koala bears in that tree?” I asked, ever so innocently.  “Uhm, it’s not a koala bear.  It’s just a koala.”  Oh.  Kay.  So now I read this book and totally wish it had been my idea! 

A hilarious take on the very common misnomer, the koala tries (with increasing impatience) to remind us that koalas are not bears, but in fact are Australian marsupials.  The illustrations are as exaggerated as the koala himself, and the whole thing comes to giggly and somewhat unexpected end. 

Finally, how can I not love a book that pays homage, in just a small way, to the True North (where we do hang our food in trees while camping, just in case a bear comes visiting in the night…) Thanks for another cracker, Aaron Blabey!

Happy reading!