Kindness is like a boomerang – if you throw it often, it comes back often
We all know someone who is good at telling stories – and in Kookoo Kookaburra by Gregg Dreiser (a descendant of the Kamilaroi tribe) and published by Magabala books we meet Kookoo – a kookaburra who has a knack for telling stories.
Kookoo is often filled with stories but one day he cannot think of a new one – so instead starts making fun of the other bush creatures. This teasing makes the animals feel terrible and soon enough Kookoo realises what he has done and makes sure that from that day on he is only kind.
This story teaches us that in order for others to be kind to us, we also need to be kind. We need to show respect to others and always consider how our actions effect those around us.
Driesse’s illustrations are bold and colourful which conjure up liveliness of the bush creatures, emotions of the bush animals and the beauty of the Australian bush.
So what can you do with this book?
Use this story to teach young readers about kindness and respect.
Explore each character and the actions that take place when they are teased.
Explore the actions of Kookoo before and after he teases after and reflect upon times we have done this.
Gregg Driess’s artwork is beautiful – explore the use of dot painting in his story and try to draw your own Australian bird amongst the Australian sky or land.
