1. Falcons
2. Friendship
3. Helpfulness
4. Kindness
5. Magpies
6. Teaching

Magpie and Brown Falcon were friends. Both had special gifts. Brown Falcon appreciated Magpie’s singing but, because she felt jealous of his flying height, speed and sight, she played three tricks on him. The first two were benign but when she pretended to be dying, Brown Falcon was so offended he moved to another part of the forest. Fortunately, when Magpie was later caught in netting and sang for help, wise Brown Falcon gave her another chance.

The structure of the three tricks and some repetition of language in the picture book, 'But he loved listening to Magpie’s evening song', is ideal for young readers and creates a fable effect. The subtle texture of acrylic paint on oil sketch paper, as well as the body language and stance of the two birds, bring the characters to life.

Sally Morgan and Ezekiel Kwaymullina are Palyku people and are mother and son. Tania Erzinger is an Adelaide-based painter.

1. Teacher Notes by Rae Carlyle. Magpie Learns a Lesson by Sally Morgan & Ezekiel Kwaymullina, illus Tania Erzinger http://resource.scholastic.com.au/resourcefiles/Teacher_Notes%5C8344983_36930.pdf
2. The sound of an Australian Magpie singing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYEYc8Ge3nw
3. ‘Magpie Learns a Lesson’, by Sally Morgan & Ezekiel Kwaymullina, illustrated by Tania Erzinger, Aussie Reviews by Sally Murphy 8 August 2015 https://aussiereviews.com/2015/08/magpie-learns-a-lesson-by-sally-morgan-ezekiel-kwaymullina-illustrated-by-tania-erzinger/
4. ‘Magpie Learns a Lesson’, reviewed by Neville Sandon, Bug in a Book https://bugreviews.wordpress.com/2015/04/21/magpie-learns-a-lesson/