Reviewer: Dr Sam Lloyd

Title: One Potoroo: A Story of Survival

Author/Illustrator: Penny Jaye/Alicia Rogerson

Publisher: CSIRO Publishing (2021)

Age range: 6 – 9

Themes: Endangered species, Gilbert’s potoroo, marsupials, bushfire, conservation, survival.

One potoroo: A Story of Survival is a beautiful story of resilience and recovery of a Gilbert’s potoroo following an extreme bushfire event in Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, in Western Australia. This bushfire was devastating for the Gilbert’s potoroo as this site was the last known natural habitat for this species, which is the most endangered marsupial in the world.

Aimed at 6 – 9 years, the book follows the story of Potoroo as he is rescued, recovers and is translocated to a new home following the fire. One Potoroo is beautifully illustrated with a mix of single and double-page spreads, and landscape and close up illustrations that help to capture the aftermath of the fire and the habitat features Potoroo needs. Along the way we learn about what Potoroo likes to eat, what type of vegetation he needs and the threat of vertebrate pests. Importantly, the story includes reference to the conservation program dedicated to preserving and recovering this species. This is complimented by a section at the back of the book (Author’s Note) that explains in more detail the role of the conservation program and the invaluable planning that saved the species.

This book tells a very important story about the risk of wildfire, the vulnerability of the Gilbert’s potoroo, but most importantly, the vital role of collaborative conservation programs in planning and facilitating recovery efforts. 

For more information about the Gilbert’s Potoroo, or to support conservation efforts, please visit www.potoroo.org