It’s beautifully designed, with gorgeous illustrations in Indigenous colours, stunning end pages, and lots of easy-to read points in text and images.
For thousands of years, First Nations peoples have used small fires to control the overgrowth of vegetation to prevent bushfires. In this way they protect the land and wildlife habitats.
This handbook has various bushfire plans, with Be Aware, the first essential. Prepare a bushfire plan and Share information which is always available. There is a list of sites at the end under the heading, Your Bushfire Plan Starts Here. There is also a wall poster that comes with the book with these points as reminders on How to be Bushfire Smart.
Images of Australian animals and a map are introduced to support and complement the text.
Other main points address how to prevent fires, what to expect, weather conditions to be aware of, and what drought means. These build awareness and as always, knowledge is power.
Although lots of specialised people work to identify threats of fire, fear always exists, especially in children. Explanation of each point is expansive and practical.
Accent is given to the three causes of fire, Fuel, Heat, Oxygen.
The book is presented optimistically, with emphasis on knowledge being as paramount as preparation and awareness.
Title: The Bushfire Book
Author: Polly Marsden
Illustrator: Chris Nixon
Publisher: Hachette , $19.99
Publication Date: September 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780734420077
For ages: 5+
Type: Non Fiction
