Create and Craft - EcoBuddies

January 2026

Unley EcoBuddies Heading

Unley EcoBuddies is a collaboration between City of Unley Libraries and Climate & Sustainability. Library staff visit local early learning facilities to share stories and information that will inspire and encourage local children, their parents and educators to care for and respect the natural world, and practice sustainability in their facilities, homes and communities. 

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These are the books we are featuring in our visits and donating to early learning centres in 2026:

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Mopoke

by Philip Bunting

Mopoke sits in the old gum tree, poked and prodded by the bush is he...

Mopoke loves peace and quiet but the bush is full of many, many annoyances. Poor Mopoke is about to find out that you can’t always get what you want.

Visually brilliant, and hysterically funny, Philip’s pictures tell a thousand words, with the support of some very sparse, but hilarious, text. This is a book destined to become a classic.

 
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The Bug Book

by Tania Ingram and Lucinda Gifford

Meet spiders in trees, beetles under leaves and very busy bees! Told in irresistible rhyme, and with a swarm of friendly characters, The Bug Book is a fun introduction to insects, with a tiny ladybug for children to find at the end. Faced-paced, lively and brimming with humour, kids will want to hide, slide, climb and glide with these playful bugs time and time again!

Request a copy via our catalogue

 
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Baabinje's Backyard

by Ella Noah Bancroft & Bronwyn Bancroft

"My baabinje always had dirt under her fingernails. She would take me out to the backyard and say, 'Sit, Marli. Observe and connect with the day.'" A picture book about a grandmother's love for her garden, her Country and her family.

Request a copy via our catalogue

 

Here are some more EcoBuddies books to share with your preschooler:

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A Good Place

by Lucy Cousins

Request a copy via our catalogue

 
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The Garden on Red Gum Road

by Phil Cummings and Danny Snell

Request a copy via our catalogue

 
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Fabulous Frogs

by Katrina Germein and Suzanne Houghton

Request a copy via our catalogue

 
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Luna Loves Gardening

by Joseph Coelho and Fiona Lumbers

Request a copy via our catalogue

 
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Kind: a call to care for every creature

by Jess McGeachin

Request a copy via our catalogue

 
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I am a Magpie I am a Currawong

by Bridget Farmer

Request a copy via our catalogue

 
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Garden Stew

by Carrie Gallasch and Zoe Ingram

Request a copy via our catalogue

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Bowerbird Blues / Bowerbird Brood

by Aura Parker

Request a copy via our catalogue 

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Bitsy

by Nicki Greenberg

 

Request a copy via our catalogue

 

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Country

by Aunty Fay Muir, Sue Lawson & Cheryl Davison

Request a copy via our catalogue 

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Walk in the Bush

by Gwyn Perkins

Request a copy via our catalogue 

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Plantastic!: A to Z of Australian Plants

by Catherine Clowes and Rachel Gyan

Request a copy via our catalogue 

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Australian Animals from Beach to Bush

by Brent Turner

Request a copy via our catalogue 

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Australian Backyard Buddies

by Andy Geppert

Request a copy via our catalogue 

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Cockatoo

by Kay Baillie and Max Hamilton

Request a copy via our catalogue 

 

A rare and special bird that you might be lucky to see is the Wilampa, the Kaurna name for the Yellow-tailed black cockatoo. These vulnerable birds can be found in parts of Queensland and South Australia, particularly in the Mount Lofty Ranges in winter. They feed on seeds and insect larvae. If you go for a walk in forests or National Parks, you might be lucky enough to find one of their beautiful yellow tipped tail feathers. 

You can make your own Wilampa puppet using this template.

Wilampa-Black-Cockatoo-Craft.pdf(PDF, 722KB)

Picture of cardboard bird black cockatoo in front of Australian bush background

For this craft you will need:

  • 1 x copy of the template, printed on card
  • Yellow cellophane or paper
  • Straw or stick
  • Glue, textas/pencils/paint, scissors, stapler

Directions:

  • Cut out around the body and wings of your Wilampa template. You might need an adult to help you cut inside the shapes on the face and tail.
  • Stick yellow cellophane to the back of these windows.
  • You can use crayons or the scraps of cardboard to add extra decoration to your bird.
  • Attach the wings and the straw/stick to use as a puppet.

     


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