Platypus Books

Reviewed by Evan Weldon (age 6) for Reader Views (12/08)

"Kersplatypus" by Susan K. Mitchell is a about a little lost animal who is trying to find out what he is and where he belongs. Brushtail Possum, Kookaburra, Wallaby, and Old Bandicoot all try to help him. Kookaburra says he should fly, Brushtail Possum says he should climb; Wallaby says he should bounce, but each time he tries to do these things he falls flat on his face. Kersplat! Blue Tongued Skink makes fun of him and teases him but when he finds out that the lost creature is a platypus and lives in the water, he tumbles into the water and discovers what it is like to fall flat.

This book will teach people a lot about animals from Australia. I learned about unusual mammals like marsupials and monotremes. There are even some activities about animals in the back of the book. I really like the pictures because they were funny and kind of realistic.

I would recommend "Kersplatypus" by Susan K. Mitchell to people who like animals.

Down under, in Australia, there is a creature who doesn't know who he is or where he belongs. His friends, Bushtail Possum, Wallaby, Blue-Tongued Skink, and Kookaburra kindly try to help him, but he just keeps falling "KERSPLAT!" Old Bandicoot says he's a Platypus, but where does he belong? Young readers will enjoy following Kersplatypus' adventures as he searches the Australian landscape for his identity.

Author Susan K. Mitchell has brought some of the animals and the geography of Australia alive for children in a most delightful way. The illustrations by Sherry Rogers highlight the story, plus give an extra depth and richness, so that you feel as if your are right there with the animals. The story is not only fun to read, but also informative. The activities in the back give children and classrooms added fun in animal recognition and geography. This book is highly recommended for children ages 3-7.

Sherry Rogers has done it again: another beautifully illustrated children's book that teaches a little about wildlife, this time in a unique ecosystem that not many children are lucky enough to visit: Australia! Her drawings are infused with a joyous energy.

Kersplatypus is a children's picturebook about a young platypus who doesn't know where he belongs. Other Australian wildlife try to introduce him to climbing trees, flying the skies, or bounding along the ground, but the platypus just doesn't take to it. At last he discovers his natural home - in the water with his beloved mother. Additional pages of fun facts about the platypus and other animals native to Australia round out this delightful, enthusiastic, and educational picturebook.

Sylvan Dell Publishing publishes the best in children's literature. Their books are entertaining, tell a grand story, educate children (and adults) and are oh so appealing to the eye with their fun, quirky, colorful and delightful illustrations.

Kersplatypus is the exciting adventure of a strange little creature that suddenly appears after the big rains in Australia. The animals wonder what `he' is (even the little creature doesn't know what `he' is). But the animals do know he has fur, a tail, feet and a duck-like bill. With the clues they have, the animals band together to help the little creature discover who he is and where he belongs.

Sometimes good friends, tenacity and spirit go a long, long way in finding the answers to the questions that don't seem to have answers.

I love Kersplatypus. He's the cutest little platypus. And I love the cozy, caring feel of the story. The illustrations add tremendously to the flavor of the story and are so beautiful that children and adults will be drawn to them.

I also love that the book contains some fun facts about the platypus-and that there are activities for the children.

This book is also a great gift to give those special little ones in your life. I suspect the kids will wear out the book from use. It's that good.

Armchair Interviews says: Kersplatypus is a must have!

This book compliments the toy that was purchased at the same time. The 4 year old can see and feel the soft toy and associate it with the written story.

I bought this for my son before he went to the literature festival where this author was. My son has a thing for platypuses. Finding this book was great. He loves non-fiction with pictures written in a web page style. He has shared this book with his entire class. It's too bad it isn't in Accelerated Reader. He would really love it then.

This is a beautifully illustrated book about one of the most curious creatures in the animal kingdom. The platypus, famous for laying eggs and nursing their young has defied categorization for centuries. This book follows the history and evolution of the platypus and provides a rich description of the animal's lifestyle and life cycle.

An interesting note - platypus are called monotremes, which means an egg laying mammal. That is a catch all because mammalia have to a) have hair on some part of their bodies; b) be warm-blooded and c) give live birth and nurse their young. According to this book, monotremes were the precursor to the modern mammals and only the platypus and 2 kinds of echidnas remain today. Monotremes do not have teats to suckle their young; instead they have 2 milk pouches of skin on their stomachs which drips into the mouths of their young.

This book will undoubtedly delight all ages and has a plethora of very interesting information.

The perfect book for kids who ask, "What is the weirdest animal on earth?" Each two-page layout has larger descriptive text on top, and smaller text with more scientific facts on the bottom. Nice illustrations.

Enter a world of beautiful monsters looking for another kind of bliss ! Male, female or a little of both, they are all looking for pleasures unheard of. In this realm of beautiful and erotic faeries lie the hope of renewed encounters and forgotten relationships. Beauty is everywhere in this little book, one might be taking to the park to simply enjoy uncanny sights of desire surrounded by singing birds and the rustle of the wind in the trees.

This is Caitlin R. Kiernan's second volume of weird erotica, and it is just as... well, weird and erotic as its predecessor, Frog Toes & Tentacles. The pieces found herein are short, creepy, sexy, and as always, very well written. A definite must for any fan of Kiernan or erotica in general. For more weird erotica from Caitlin R. Kiernan, check out the monthly Sirenia Digest at www.caitlinrkiernan.com/sirenia.html.

The stories in this volume are stamped with the unmistakable voice of their author. Everything here is an exotically, erotically transformed hothouse flower. Tales from the Woeful Platypus deserves a place in erotic history beside Anais Nin, Pierre Louys, and all the rest. Caitlin R. Kiernan fascinates with her style, with the elusive and sensual nature of these tales. I'd gladly swap this book for a shelf full of so-called "erotic horror" anthologies and count myself lucky. Vince Locke's illustrations set the tone for each piece, and could not be more perfectly matched. Aubrey Beardsley could not have done a better job himself. If you like good erotica, if you like engaging, sensuous fantasy, buy this book.

I'm beginning to think that Caitlin R. Kiernan cannot produce a single piece of literature that I don't like. This wonderful slim collection of what is not necessarily erotica is absolutely delicious. Each of the stories combines threads of eroticism with big chunks of Kiernan's own personal style...whether it is horror, sci fi, fantasy, or whatever else she chooses. The illustrations are exceptional.
Also, for those of you who have been following the ladies from "In the Garden of Poisonous Flowers", there's an extra special treat in here. That story was so good that it brought tears to my eyes. But you'll just have to read it to find out why. :)

If My Mom Were A Platypus is an entrancing children's book covering all sorts of animal babies-platypus, koala, lion, orangutan, whale, shrew and more. The beautifully-illustrated text pulls in children by pretending they are the baby. If My Mom Were A Platypus describes in detail how different babies eat, learn, grow and mature. This fact-loaded book delights both adults and children and is extraordinarily hard to put down. Even the ending is superb. Includes glossary and index and highlights endangered or threatened species. Activity guides are available at PlatypusMedia.com. Perfect for school or home use. Ages 4-adult.

The book, 'If My Mom Were A Platypus'was written by Dia L. Michels. It provides a nice introduction to 13 animals (including humans), and provides basic information regarding birth, growth, diet, and other interesting scientific facts. Written from the point of view of the newborn animal and it's mother, the book is targeted towards upper elementary and middle school audiences. However, it can be enjoyed by younger children. It makes a good family readaloud and can be used for basic research. The illustrations are realistic and colorful, and the book includes a glossary and index.

My three year old daughter loves this book. The book tells how different mammals are born, nursed, grow, eat, etc. It is really fascinating [I found it very interesting myself]. While the book is long and written for a much older audience, it still held my young daughter's attention [though we read only a few pages at a time]. The book is very educational and would be especially nice for families who breastfeed. It ends with the birth of a human mammal and tells how the baby is born and nursed and grows etc. This is a really neat book!

Written by ten-year-old Zaydek G. Michels-Gualtieri, I Was Born To Be A Brother is the charming true story of a young boy who adapts to having a little sister around the house. Despite their rivalries, their are siblings who know and love one another. Full-color illustrations by Daniel Liegey and an accompanying CD with the story and music make for a cherished and strongly recommended children's picture book tale about "siblinghood" -- and is especially meant to be shared among siblings.

This was the inspired gift from our grandmother to our three boys to help celebrate the arrival of our fourth child. It address real life situations and range of feeling involved in being a big brother - a great conversation starter with the preschool set.

This book represents a great bargain when you consider the great CD that is included. It has a read-a-long feature and several songs that our boys love to sing. It also contains a reading of the companion book "I Was Born to be a Sister" - what more could you want!

A Funny Book

This is a very funny book. Cathcart and Klein manage to teach a little philosophy along with the humor. They seem to understand their subject and they make it fun for the reader.

I enjoyed this book even more than their other, similar, book:

Aristotle and an Aardvark Go to Washington

I enjoyed this book and wholeheartedly recommend it to others.

A Funny Book

This is a very funny book. Cathcart and Klein manage to teach a little philosophy along with the humor. They seem to understand their subject and they make it fun for the reader.

I enjoyed this book even more than their other, similar, book:

Aristotle and an Aardvark Go to Washington

I enjoyed this book and wholeheartedly recommend it to others.

'Zack in the Middle' is a delightful book about a seven year old boy who is surrounded by an older sister and a younger sister. Told from a middle child point of view, the book examines the good and not so good points of being the one in the middle. The story leaves you with positive feelings of Zack being surrounded by love. Written as an easy reader, this book is a good addition to beginner reader collections for libraries and classrooms. Colorful drawings, a limited vocabulary, and no more than two sentences on a page, make this an excellent choice for an emerging reader who also happens to be a middle child.

This is a true story about a boy in our school. We love having him celebrated in print. We new him first as the baby brother
then as the big brother and now as the proud fourth grader with his own biograhy in our easy reader section. Boys love this true story. Thank you, Dia.

Finally! A breastfeeding reference that contains the most recent and pertinent information from the world's trusted experts in the field. This book encompasses all the information about breastfeeding that anyone may need for a clear, accurate picture of how this beneficial practice fits into today's world. Those who are currently in the breastfeeding field will appreciate its concise relevence. Those women considering or currently breastfeeding will find an invaluable collection of essays on the most important aspects of breastfeeding. It is the perfect starting point for new mothers to understand the issues involving today's breastfeeding mother. Employers, doctors and family members of breastfeeding mothers will find all the necessary facts to warrant support of the benefits of breast milk and the act of breastfeeding.

Authored and illustrated by Australian aboriginal artist, actor and writer Mundara Koorang, The Little Platypus And The Fire Spirit is a "Dream Time" story of the duck-billed, web-footed, paddle-tailed, fur covered platypus and how such a peculiar creature came to be of such a curiously featured shape. Following the platypus through its creative aboriginal folklore storytelling elements, The Little Platypus And The Fire Spirit carries young readers through the adventure of a little platypus who dreams of becoming a duck and swimming in circles as he saw ducklings do, then goes on to acquire (with the Fire Spirit's help) a tail, webbed feet, a beautiful fur coat, and a distinctive beak. A superb selection choice for school and community library Folklore/Mythology collections for young readers, The Little Platypus And The Fire Spirit is very highly recommended as the remarkable aboriginal folktale story of allegorical self-discovery and how the platypus came to look the way it does.

This book written by Dia L. Michels can serve a parent in a variety of ways. It is an excellent readaloud for a younger nonreading child who can engage in a guessing game based upon picture clues. The book can also serve as a beginning reader for the emerging reader in your family. There are no more than 2 sentences on a page with a limited vocabulary and picture clues that will help the reader to understand the contents. The book tells a story of a family trip around the neighborhood from the baby's point of view. Colorful photographs enhance the text and make the book pleasing to view. A good addition to any family library.