Deep in the darkest, remote and most loneliest jungle, there lives quite the one and the onliest.
Seen once in the wild, and then never again, all that’s left are notes from a tracker’s own pen.
A nonsensical puzzle when seen piece by piece, but when viewed as a whole… Behold! The Bewilderbeast!
Josh Pyke is an Australian singer-songwriter, who is also a children’s author with several picture books under his belt, including Chatterpuss, Lights Out Leonard, Family Tree and A Banana is a Banana. Josh joined us live on Facebook earlier this year to discuss Family Tree, which was read by one million kids during National Simultaneous Storytime (watch the event here!). His latest picture book is The Bewilderbeast, and it once again highlights his writing prowess with fun rhymes and an amusing storyline. The Bewilderbeast is sure to light up the faces of little readers aged 3+.
The Bewilderbeast is about a tracker sent deep into the jungle to hunt down unusual beast-like creatures the townspeople have been spotting. At the heart of this story is the question of whether these animals are really so scary, or do they just appear… a little odd. It’s a great way of teaching kids not to judge a beast, or anyone, by its appearance!
The illustrations by award-winning illustrator Binny Talib make this picture book shine alongside the verse. Talib’s style is absolutely charming, and there are hidden gems to be discovered on every page. Her drawings exude vibrance and warmth, and animal lovers will enjoy checking out the details within the beasts and townspeople – who are all portrayed as different animals including bears, cats and foxes.
This is the perfect picture book for young readers who are beginning to grasp rhyme and expand their vocabulary, as well as those who love getting lost in vivid, fun illustrations. The Bewilderbeast is a quirky and meaningful picture book that I highly recommend you add to the kids’ book piles.
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