Democracy! (Philip Bunting, Little Hare)
In his latest release, prolific children’s author Philip Bunting continues to display his talent for creating engaging and brightly hued nonfiction. In Democracy!, it is firmly asserted that ‘people power’ includes all people, big and small. This picture book is aimed at readers aged four and up, and gives an age-appropriate look into an important part of our society. Posing simple questions about the nature of democracy including, ‘what exactly is it?’ and ‘why does it matter?’, and then giving detailed yet easy-to-comprehend answers, Bunting offers an opportunity for readers to get an overview of the topic, delve into the history of democracy, and understand how the concept affects their everyday lives, no matter how old they are. The book presents fun timelines, graphs and illustrations to further deliver the facts in a digestible way. The information is thorough and was created in consultation with The Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. Towards the end of the book there are several ideas for how to engage in community discussions, including creating petitions and participating in peaceful protests. The most important thing that Bunting teaches his young readers is that the true spirit of democracy lies in actions, and in doing so he encourages them to use their voices, show kindness and do the right thing.
Books+Publishing reviewer: Karys McEwen is the library manager at Prahran High School, a middle-grade author, and the vice president of CBCA VIC Branch. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.
