A Koala's World

Children's Literature - Phyllis Kennemer

Queensland koalas, part of the northern group of these marsupials, are introduced with a page of facts about where they live, what they eat, and how big they are. A baby koala, called a joey, is only the size of a jelly bean when it is born. It crawls into its mother's pouch and drinks milk there for seven months. Then it emerges, but stays close to the mother as it learns survival skills. Koalas spend most of their lives in eucalyptus or gum trees, eating buds and leaves. They sleep on sturdy branches for 18 to 20 hours each day. Koalas moving from one tree to another must be on the lookout for predators, such as foxes, dingoes, and wild dogs. After a year of living with its mother, the young koala leaves to find its own place in the forest and to continue the cycle of life. Full-color illustrations of koalas fill most of the pages. Inset boxes on some pages provide information beyond the text. Special features include a map of Australia, fun facts, a glossary, a bibliography, a list of suggested websites, and an index. Part of "Caroline Arnold's Animals" series. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D.