Review: Deadly Reads - Saltwater Series

The Deadly Reads for Deadly Readers – Saltwater series is a set of four levelled pre-primary readers, specifically designed to offer indigenous and non-indigenous young readers an early reading experience that is relevant, engaging and supportive of their emerging literacy skills.

The four books in the series are:

• Claws, Eyes, Flippers  – illustrated by Dub Leffler (Band A)
• Animals Move – illustrated by Dub Leffler (Band A)
• I Have… - Nola Turner-Jensen, illustrated by Maggie Prewett (Band B)
• A Beach for Us to Play – Nola Turner-Jensen, illustrated by Maggie Prewett (Band B)

Band A books feature four pages of large type, well spaced text (one sentence per page) accompanied by colourful illustrations of saltwater animals.

Band B books feature six pages of large type, well spaced text (one sentence per page, some including speech marks) accompanied by illustrations of young Maggie with her family and/or animal friends.

The books have been developed to fulfil the following criteria:

• Accurate and culturally appropriate subject matter
• Meaningful events that relate to a child’s conceptual knowledge
• Supportive illustrations, created by a local indigenous artist
• Clear text layout with large spacing between words
• Vocabulary and grammatical structures that gradually increase with complexity.

The books are visually appealing with gorgeous illustrations by Leffler and Prewett (my favourites are Leffler’s fish and turtle). I love the integration of indigenous characters into the books as something that is beneficial to both indigenous and non-indigenous children.  I think actively bringing indigenous authors and illustrators into classroom from the earliest stages of reading is a wonderful way to raise awareness of our country’s rich and diverse indigenous heritage and culture.


Title: Deadly Reads for Deadly Readers - Saltwater Series
Author: Nola Turner-Jensen
Illustrator: Dub Leffle, Maggie Prewett
Publisher: Magabala Books, $19.95 RRP (for a set of four)
Publication Date: October 2012
Format: Soft cover readers
ISBN: 9781921248757, 9781921248771, 9781921248740, 9781921248764
For ages:  pre-primary readers, Band A and Band B
Type: Early readers