Ori’s Clean-Up
By Anne Helen Donnelly
$24.99, hardcover, published by Anne Helen Donnelly
The third in a series of self-published books about Ori the Octopus, Ori’s Clean-Up looks at an important topic (#WarOnWaste) that’s getting a lot of social and media attention at the moment – and rightfully so. It’s a complicated issue but is covered very simply here, as a way to introduce the concepts of rubbish disposal, reusing and recycling to a pre-school audience. The illustrations and text are quite basic, with plenty of repeated verbs, as Ori and her very cooperative friends clean up the mess on the ocean floor and realise that looking for ways to reuse and compost is more effective long-term than simply tidying. It’s a worthwhile message, and one that hasn’t been looked at enough (read: good opportunities here for more new picture books and stories on the topic!)
Angie Schiavone has a Master of Arts in Children's Literature and is the former children's book reviewer for The Sydney Morning Herald. She has been a judge for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, a restaurant reviewer and editor for the Good Food Guide, and a cookbook editor. She's also a mum to two book and food-loving kids.
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