Mulga’s Magical Musical Creatures (Joel Moore (Mulga), Lothian)

A creative mogul in the making, Sydney-based mural artist and poet Joel Moore has made his Mulga alias a brand name with a clothing label and illustration work for companies such as Mambo and Microsoft. Tying all these ventures together is a signature style—quirky characters, vibrant colours and patterned textures—that is as striking on the page as it is on a wall or a t-shirt. A picture book seems to be the natural next step, after the success of last year’s Mulga’s Magical Colouring Book, which appealed to both adults and children with its bold mix of line-drawn animal characters and hip attitude. Bright, fun and full of intricate details, Mulga’s Magical Musical Creatures offers a curious, colourful world to explore. With a rhyming poem to pull you in, and an assortment of cool animals playing instruments to meet, it is a journey into the wild imagination. From saxophone-playing crocs to lions in pink socks, there is a bit of dreamlike wonder in this book for everyone. It is recommended for readers aged four and up.

Suzanne Garcia is a bookseller and buyer at Mary Martin Bookshop

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