Creature Corridors (Billie Rooney, illus Anke Noack, CSIRO Publishing)

Billie Rooney’s educational picture book, Creature Corridors, explores how human infrastructure impacts animal habitats and highlights the role of wildlife corridors in helping animals travel and live safely. The book features kangaroos using tunnels under roads, small native birds navigating trees planted in rows around farms and paddocks, and koalas crossing highways via bridges to reach fresh eucalyptus trees. Through brief stories of various animals and their challenges, the book provides solutions alongside a more detailed explanation of different types of wildlife corridors. This structure makes it suitable for both younger (preschool) and older children up to age 9, as well as for use in educational settings, with teacher notes available. A simple glossary of terms is also included. Each wildlife corridor scenario is illustrated with a simple image depicting the dangers that animals face, followed by a richer, more harmonious illustration that stretches across the page, showing the solutions in action. Anke Noack’s friendly, emotive illustrations, such as of animals gazing up at the sun breaking through on the hopeful pages, invite readers of all ages to sympathise with the creatures and feel inspired to support the solutions that can make a difference.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Angela Meyer is an author and lecturer in writing and publishing at RMIT. She is a former publisher and bookseller. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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