Dung Beetle on a Roll (Sandra Severgnini, CSIRO Publishing)

Dung Beetle on a Roll by Sandra Severgnini (Meet Mim, Grub) follows an ambitious dung beetle who is working on his best dung ball yet. But what exactly is a dung ball? In this book, young readers will find all the details about this stinky subject and the role dung beetles play in our environment, along with an engaging narrative. We meet our narrator as he starts to build a dung ball, fending off rivals, then quickly pushing it to a perfect spot to show it off to a potential mate. However, it turns out bigger isn’t necessarily better, which has a clever double meaning when it comes to both the unwieldy size of the dung ball and the critical role tiny dung beetles play in recycling nutrients in the soil. Children aged 5+ who enjoy information books will lap up the facts that unfold in the story, including the different types of dung beetles, where they locate their prized dung, and how they navigate using the sun. The book concludes with an information section on fabulous facts about dung beetles, including their usefulness on Australian farms. Dung Beetle on a Roll offers skilful illustrations and surprising insight into the fascinating world of these small but important beetles.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Karys McEwen is a librarian, bookseller, author, and the vice president of CBCA Vic Branch. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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