Cattle muster by Dianne Wolfer & Frané Lessac

It’s time to muster the cattle. Mum’s in the ute. Charlie’s in the chopper. Dad leads the jackaroos. Sis rides canters on the wing. Everyone has a job, everyone except me...

The lives of children in the rural and remote regions of Australia are very different from those of kids in the city and this offers a small insight into one aspect of that as the Brahman cattle are mustered, loaded onto the road trains to be taken to the saleyards, and everyone has to lend a hand. That is, unless you are deemed to be too young - and even city kids can relate to that.

Told by the one-who-is-too-young in simple text accompanied by vibrant illustrations which echo the palette of the Outback, this is a story that has a uniquely Australian flavour to it that is going to appeal to those who live the life, those who aspire to, and those who are keen to adventure beyond the city limits. Perfect for this year's CBCA Book Week theme.

Author of Soaring with the Sugarbird Lady, Mia, and Scout and the Rescue Dogs among many others, Wolfer is renowned for providing intriguing reads which shine a light on the lives of those who do not live the conventional 9-5 city life, while Lessac's portrayal of our landscape is well known through books like Our Country: Where History Happened and A is for Australian Reefs so this is a pairing that was meant to be. Teachers' notes are available.

Themes: Cattle, Farms, Outback.

Barbara Braxton