Crikey!

Jane & Zannah Carroll (authors)

Chris Edser (illustrator)

Omnibus Books, Scholastic, Australia: September 2010

ISBN: 9781862918245

Genres: animal stories, realistic fiction

Issues: friendship, sharing

When it's announced that Davina Dabchick, a famous zoologist, is visiting Yabby Creek school, Joe is worried that he won't have an animal to show her. He can hardly bring a mob of sheep from the farm to school, can he!

He doesn't want to be the only animal-less student, especially when Patsy Toogood is boasting about bringing her mother's grand champion show dog. Then, on his way home, Joe rescues a baby galah, the perfect creature to show Ms Dabchick. Or he would have been, until Crikey decides that it's time to return to his flock a few days before Davina's arrival. What will Joe do – will he be the only Yabby Creek kid without an animal for the great day?

A simple narrative that explores the group dynamics of the average class and the anxieties of childhood, Crikey! is also an entertaining read. Edser's lively illustrations give Crikey the galah enormous personality, capturing the bird's clownish nature.

Scholastic's Mates series provides entertaining stories that form a useful bridge between picture books and novels for younger readers.

Other titles: Barnesy; The Heart of the Forest; Crooked Mick; The Wombat and the Grand Poohjam