This brilliant, humorous story, the fourth in the Tales
of the Bush Mob series, opens onto another daring adventure with a group of
birds and their animal friends who live in Outback Australia.
White Boss Cocky and Black Boss Cocky have been at
odds with one another for a very long time. Their clans continue to fight about
who is responsible for the protection of the ancient forests. There is no end in
sight to the raucous they continue to cause.
A monumental fight occurs that causes two baby
cockies to fall out of their nests.
Due to the lack of feathers on the baby birds,
their mothers are unable to tell them apart. They decide to move to the edge of
the forest and raise them together as brothers.
It is Eagle who warns the mothers of a fast-approaching
fire. The animals must be warned to move to safety, as no firebreak exists. The
Boss Cockies have neglected their responsibilities.
Too busy fighting to listen, it is the Bush Mob that
set out to save the animals. The mothers, and brothers who are now grown, lead
the clans. All assemble at the Billabong.
Can their ingenious plan to save the ancient forest
be successful? Will the cockatoo clans end the feud to work together and become
leaders again?
It will take more than common sense and courage to
let go of their useless fighting. Will the birds and animals survive a raging
fire and a sky full of ash and embers?
This wonderful
tale carries metaphors on the importance of handing down stories and traditions.
It addresses the responsibility all people carry to respect, protect and honour
the land we live on.
Beautiful illustrations adorn each page. Children
can learn about all our native animals, birds and creatures that live in the
forest through the stunning images Helen Milroy has created, and how survival depends
on them working together and respecting the role in nature that each one has to
play.
Title: Tales From The Bush Mob: The Cockatoo Wars
Publisher: Magabala Books, $24.99
Publication Date: 1 February 2023
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781922613554
For ages: 6+
Type: Junior Fiction
