Brightly coloured illustrations complement this environmental tale about a Bungarra (sand goanna) who comes across three of his friends in the bush, who have been impacted by rubbish left behind by humans. This picture book provides a useful starting point for conversation about the ways in which the rubbish we leave behind can hurt our native wildlife. Ideas about the various ways we can reduce, reuse and recycle are highlighted.
Children will learn that the plastic bottle Olive Python got her head stuck in can be reused, and the broken glass that got stuck in Kathy Kangaroo’s paw can be recycled. Young readers might be inspired to make their own creations from items that they would normally throw away. The illustrations illuminate important environmental messages in a fun colourful way, with flowing lines creating a sense of movement. The vibrant colours of the animals in the illustrations and the onomatopoeic use of language in the text work seamlessly together to captivate young readers and listeners. Sally Morgan belongs to the Palyku people from the eastern Pilbara region of Western Australia. Ambelin Kwaymullina is a writer and illustrator from the Palyku people of the Pilbara in the North West region of Western Australia.