A funny book about koalas: "Koalas like to..."

Our new range of Stories for Little Queenslanders books is designed especially for 0-5 year olds, and has been created by authors and illustrators connected to Queensland. 

"Koalas like to sleep in trees. Koalas like to eat gum leaves. They also like to try on wigs. And roll around in mud with pigs...." Wait a minute, is that right? You and your little one will love discovering what these koalas get up to!

About the book

The cartoon style drawings and the silly rhyming text makes this funny book a great choice for reading out loud with your kids. Although koalas don’t really play trombones or drive fast cars, young kids of all ages will love the story as they discover what koalas may or may not like to do.

Why is this a good book to share? 

Research shows that children under 5 like books with rhyme, rhythm and repetition. They also like stories about characters with quirky traits, books with humour and a sense of fun, or on familiar topics such as about families, pets and Australian animals.

Koalas like to… has all the positive features including rhythm and rhyme and quirky humour that children enjoy as well as bright colours and high-contrast pictures that are easy for babies to focus on.

Ideas for sharing the book together

• Start with the cover and ask children what the story might be about. The drawing of the koala is a great clue!
• Check out the endpapers with wonderful drawings of koalas dressed in funny costumes and doing unusual things such as playing guitars and talking on phones! Have a silly conversation about the funny things koalas might like to do!
• Use different voices for the different characters as you read.
• Don’t skip over new words such as trombone, tutus and mistake. Point to the images as you read or use props to help make sense of the new words you’re helping your child to learn.
• Encourage your little one to talk about their own ideas, inspired by the book. What amazing or silly things can they imagine koalas might like to do?
• At the end of the story, ask your little one what they learnt about Koalas. Check out the koala facts at the end of the book and talk about eucalyptus leaves, or native and nocturnal animals.

About the author 

Shae Millward is based in sunny, sandy, seaside, subtropical Hervey Bay, Queensland. Shae enjoys writing poetry, song lyrics, inspirational quotes, short stories, picture books and more!

About the illustrator 

Brent Wilson is an Australia-based illustrator whose art has a playful mid-century feel. With its block colours, loose lines and jaunty characters, his work is nostalgic of the children’s books and advertising campaigns of the 1950s and 60s. Brent’s illustrations have appeared in major national publications, and featured in the children’s exhibition Play ... The Old-Fashioned Way at Redcliffe Museum.