Cuddly Callum

Susannah McFarlane (author)

Lachlan Creagh (illustrator)

Scholastic Press, Australia: 2011

ISBN: 9781741696806

extension vocabulary

Genre: picture book

Issues: friendship, emotional intelligence

Callum is 'considered the cuddliest cockatoo in the countryside'. Callum's favourite thing to cuddle is his toy alligator, who goes everywhere with him. But when Mr Cuddles goes missing, Callum is 'completely crestfallen'. Will he recover his sunny nature – or his toy? Callum's friends rally round to cheer the unhappy cockatoo.

Susannah McFarlane has had great fun with this cheeky little book about an iconic Australian – the sulphur-crested cockatoo. Lachlan Creagh's illustrations introduce the reader to a range of other Australian cockatoos – the Major Mitchell, the yellow-tailed and red-tailed blacks as well as a wombat, a kangaroo and a cassowary. McFarlane has created a lively story that will entertain toddlers, packed with interesting c-words designed to expand their vocabulary and challenge their word-usage.

Adults be warned: the new 'word of the week' will probably have at least three syllables!