Grug and the Bushfire by Ted Prior

Simon & Schuster Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760858483.
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Grug, that strange little creature made from the top of a Burrawang tree, is back in another exciting and dangerous adventure. In his note at the beginning of the book, Ted tells the reader that his home on a 200-acre rural property was saved by the Rural Fire Service in a bushfire, but much of the surrounding forest was burnt. Because Grug lives underground he would have survived and in this story, Prior tells of that adventure.
In simple, easy to read aloud sentences the reader is taken through what happens when there is a bushfire and why it occurs. A delightful little Grug, with his brown and yellow grass body with a tuft on his head, sees that the grass around his home is very dry and brown and leaves were falling from the trees. Cara the snake tells him that the smoke he could see in the distance is a bushfire and that he would be safe underground in his home. Soon it was full of other creatures taking shelter, and they could hear a roar and smoke started to come in. When the fire had passed, they went outside to see the devastation that it had caused, animals' homes burnt, and food lost. Grug shares what he had stored and is very glad when the rain comes and begins to restore the earth.
Grug has been a favourite of children for many years, remembered fondly by my son and this one is sure to be read aloud to my little grandson. The important messages about looking after each other and sharing in times of adversity, as well as caring for the land, are ones for everyone. And beginning readers will enjoy the large black print and illustrations that complement the text.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital.
Pat Pledger