1. Desert animals
2. Endangered species
3. Literary devices
4. Pilbara area (WA SF50, SF51, SG50)

This is the second picture book by Norma MacDonald a Yamatji-Nyungar woman from Western Australia with a focus on the plight of the endangered spinifex hopping mice of the Pilbara region in the North West.

Two little brother spinifex mice, Lucky and Spike, venture out at night in search of spinifex seeds scattered at the people’s camp nearby. When a feral cat gives chase the mice race through the camp setting off the dogs and raising the interest of a watchful barking owl.

Full bleed watercolour and pencil illustrations capture the movement and action highlighted in the text. A brief endnote details the author’s own observations on the impact of feral cats on native animals and birds.

1. Desert Hopping Mouse Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV8J-gWcnfE
2. Perth Zoo Spinifex Hopping Mouse https://perthzoo.wa.gov.au/animal/spinifex-hopping-mouse
3. Spinifex Mouse Teachers Notes, Magabala Books http://static.booktopia.com.au/pdf/9781921248801-1.pdf
4. Spinifex Mouse Teacher Notes for first book https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0092/5043/9268/files/Spinifex_Mouse_Teacher_Notes.pdf?2378