Both front and back jacket covers of ‘Bush Bubs’ entice very young viewers inside. Once opened, ‘Bush Bubs’ features action verbs with a rhythmic tempo perfect for reading aloud with children. On subsequent readings, the very young will join in since words and images reflect one another. There are action phrases for the young to pursue such as ‘stands up tall,’ ‘points his toes’ and ‘waddles to and fro.’ These entice the young into producing the action and thus participating with both mind and body.

‘Bush Bubs’ follows the pattern of Milroy’s other books in this series. The small square size is perfect for young fingers to grasp and immediately recognise as similar to others in this series. Engagement is encouraged throughout by ten familiar animals, all young like the viewer. These provide a game-like opportunity for young viewers to observe and copy the different features of the ten animals included. Featured are the numbat, bilby, wombat, platypus, koala, echidna, sugar glider, kangaroo joey, dingo pup and tassie devil. Viewers are encouraged to notice the numbat’s pointy nose, the wombat‘s waddle to and fro and the echidna puggle sleeping away.

Milroy offers enticing sound effects and movements for young views to join in the story for example the kangaroo joey stands up tall. Highly interactive books, such as these, are perfect for the very young for both educational and pure enjoyment. A hallmark of Milroy’s art is her varied patterns featuring intense colours often as the backdrop for the animals featured. Endpapers in a brilliant blue plus a strong brown feature the ten animals for the young reader’s re-engagement. ‘Bush Bubs’ is an informative, highly interactive, and enticing activity story book with high appeal for the very young.

Helen Milroy is a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. She is a Professor at the University of Western Australia, child and adolescent psychologist and Commissioner with the National Mental Health Commission.

‘Bush Bubs’ is the third title in the author’s Bush Series aimed at identifying Australian animals. It is a companion piece to her books, ‘Bush Birds’ and ‘Bush Bugs.’ Each is aimed at identifying and appreciating Australia’s creatures that share the continent with humans.

Series title: Backyards and Bush series

1. Fremantle Press Teaching Notes for ‘Bush Bubs’ https://fremantlepress.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TN_Bush-Bubs.pdf
2. Fremantle Press Teaching Activity for ‘Bush Bubs’ https://fremantlepress.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Bush-Bubs_ActivitySheet_ONLINE.pdf
3. ReadPlus 5 Mar 2025 review by Fran Knight of ‘Bush Bubs’ https://www.readplus.com.au/reviews/bush-bubs
4. Reading Time 7 June 2025 review by Jennifer Mors of ‘Bush Bubs’ https://readingtime.com.au/bush-bubs/
5. Story Links 20 Apr 2025 review by Sandy Driessens of ‘Bush Bubs’ https://storylinks.booklinks.org.au/2025/04/20/bush-bubs/
6. Little Squirrels Bookshelf 17 May 2025 review by Veronica of ‘Bush Bubs’ https://littlesquirrelsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2025/05/book-review-bush-bubs-by-helen-milroy.html
7. YouTube ‘Bush Bubs by Helen Milroy’ features the creator reading the story and adding occasional comments https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cX2_lzcN6w
8. Wikipedia ‘Helen Milroy’ entry includes a biographical profile and an overview of her works and awards https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Milroy
9. The University of Western Australia 22 Nov 2021 ‘Kids need nature, urges prize-winning children’s book author.’ The author discusses the importance of interacting with the natural world. https://www.uwa.edu.au/news/article/2021/november/kids-need-nature-urges-prize-winning-childrens-book-author
10. Australian Museum ‘Mammals’ https://australian.museum/learn/animals/mammals/