Tasmanian Devil; Claire Saxby, illustrated by Max Hamilton

An abandoned burrow has a new resident. A mother with two young pups has taken refuge in the den. The little Tasmanian devils are big enough to leave unattended but too small to survive alone. For now they need their mother but soon it will be time for them to head out into the world alone, big enough to find their own dens and with the skills to sniff out a satisfying meal…

In Tasmanian Devil, Claire Saxby and Max Hamilton explore the lives of one of Australia’s most famous marsupials. Found only in Australia’s island state, Tasmania, the Tasmanian devil is a fascinating animal and Saxby’s informative, educational and engaging read follows the first few months of two young Tasmanian devil pups, also known as imps, who must grow and learn to fend for themselves in preparation for the day when mum will not return home.

Told in two fonts - one telling a fictional story, the other detailing relevant facts - Saxby does a brilliant job in showcasing the animals. As we follow the lives of the pups we get to learn all about burrows, predators, hunting, diets, traits and behaviours. The story itself is enjoyable and it is interesting to watch the young pups play, growl and learn as they explore the world. What I really enjoyed are the plethora of rich facts that are relevantly interspersed throughout. Did you know that Tasmanian devils will eat the bones and fur of any animals they hunt? Or that an adult devil can eat almost half its body weight in food in one night? And that relative to their size, the bite of an adult devil is stronger than that of a tiger? These are impressive facts and there are plenty more within the pages of this read.

Back-matter includes further information about Tasmanian devils and an index of key terms to help readers identify relevant pages. A delightful read that will hold much appeal to those children who enjoy learning about animals.

With huge thanks to Walker for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review.

Recommended for 4+.