"Time for school and morning news about a great weekend in the bush!"
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Rabbiting On Nowingi by Heather Traeger Trafford Publishing
book review by Mihir Shah
Written from the author's own treasured childhood memories, Rabbiting on Nowingi is a memorable story that allows children to feel as though they are part of the story. Detailed illustrations illuminate the sensory experience for kids as they become exposed to an outdoors filled with kangaroos, foxes, rabbits, starry nights, campfires, and so much more. The written descriptions exhibit powerful imagery to help children envision exactly what is being seen, eaten, felt, smelled, etc.
For children who are having their first encounter with Mother Nature, Rabbiting On Nowingi is the ideal book. The story revolves around a trip to the Nowingi station, where a father is taking his children on a trip to the bush country, on the flat plains. From the grazing sheep and the chirping pigeons, to the screeching galahs and thirsty rabbits and rosellas, the author paints a vivid portrait of the cycle of life in action. After setting the rabbit traps, the family settles next to the warmth of the campfire and embraces the "perfumed smells of eucalyptus and pine" trees as they tell stories deep into the night. When 4:00AM arrives, they must wake, eat breakfast, and see the results of their rabbit traps from the previous day.
Though all children become adults, they never forget the charm and allure of childhood life. Rabbiting on Nowingi is the author's effort to share special moments and perhaps help form new ones. Overall, this book is a pleasurable read if simply for its scenic illustrations, themes of family outings, and portrayal of outdoor life.