Swifty grows from a hatchling to a fledgling in the blue-gum forests of Tasmania. She is then ready to make a challenging migration, following the blossom trail across Bass Strait to mainland south-eastern Australia.

Swifty faces many threats and dangers, but she must return home. Will she make it?

Fly with Swifty in this beautifully illustrated story and learn how to spot a swift parrot and help protect them.

Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 6 to 9.

Highly Commended, The MARION ACT Notable Book Awards 2023: Children's

Reviews:

"Swifty is beautifully illustrated by Astred Hicks. There is so much to learn in her illustrations from the fluffy down of newborn parrots to their feasting on lerps on leaves and sticky nectar from gum blossoms. The information pages at the back of the book, help to unlock the open questions in Swifty. There are also excellent teacher notes at the CSIRO publishing website. We have reviewed several of their books lately and the quality is high with all of them. Highly recommended."
Susanne Gervay, CBCA Reading Time, 25 September 2022

"Illustrator Astrid Hicks, also an award-winner, brings colour, joy and so much heart to the pages. Her illustrations are funky and detailed, and Swifty’s rainbow plumage shines bright one very page.
With detailed teachers notes to accompany it, this book is great for classrooms keen to learn about Australian wildlife. But it’s equally brilliant as a bedtime story, with or without the extra notes at the back...
Joyful, inspiring and engaging, Swifty the Super-fast Parrot is a winner."
Shaye Wardrop, Kids' Book Review, 3 October 2022

"Swifty is another wonderful book that provides younger readers with the opportunity to learn about one of Australia’s critically endangered birds through an engaging story. The stunning endpapers and glossy illustrations by Astrid Hicks perfectly complement the text and offer the reader so much to explore on each page."
Kathryn Beilby, ReadPlus, 3 October 2022

"This is a fictional tale full of interesting facts aimed at 6- to 9-year-olds. <...> This book touches on migration and what to do with an injured bird, as well as the factors contributing to the Swift Parrot being critically endangered - predation, by sugar gliders and cats, and habitat loss."
Sue Lashko, Canberra Bird Notes 47(2), 2022

"I loved reading this book out loud - so many wonderful adjectives and descriptive verbs to show the reader how the Swift Parrot moves about from a nest hollow with her babies to a migration north during Winter and then back down south to Tasmania to breed during spring and summer."
Vanessa RyanRendall, We Can! (email newsletter), 31 January 2023

Why do magpies swoop and why do we have such a fascination with them? Discover more about these clever, cheeky and charming songbirds through this delightful book.

Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 5 to 9.

Reviews:

"An informative delight with a heartwarming story! I love that we have this wonderful book out in the world to celebrate and create more understanding around these clever, cheeky and charming songbirds."
Picture Book Book Club (Instagram), 16 August 2022

"This glorious picture book written by Nicole Godwin will become a firm favourite of younger readers. The striking end papers and bold illustrations by Susannah Crispe will delight the reader and perfectly complement the simple yet captivating text."
Kathryn Beilby, ReadPlus, 01 September 2022

"Crispe's illustrations are simply stunning. With beautiful soft colours and details galore, in only one setting (Magpie's tree at the park). Crisp creates an entire world, with multiple characters that have stories of their own lovingly weaved into their expressions, clothing and accessories. It's truly a delight to turn each page, meet a new character and imagine who they are and what has brought them to the park."
Shayne Wardrop, Kids Book Review, 02 September 2022

"Coupled with explanatory notes at the end and thorough teaching ideas which cover science, English, ethics and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures, this is a book that must be shared with every young student so they understand why magpies swoop, and that they are just like human parents in their desire to keep their babies safe."
The Bottom Shelf, 04 September 2022

"I love the brevity of Godwin’s text, with short, punchy sentences and a pattern around repetition of the word 'swoop'. And in Crispe’s vibrant illustrations, Magpie’s bold, proud image, with animated facial expressions, occupies centre stage alongside the busy activity of the park visitors and set against soft greys and greens of a lush Australian park background. <...> I highly recommend this book for 6-9 year olds, especially as a teaching resource to introduce discussions about birds or animal behaviour in general. There are teaching notes on the publisher’s website."
Barbara Swartz, CBCA Reading Time, 19 September 2022

"While only around 10 per cent of male magpies actually attack, their seasonal antics have becomes a part of Australian folklore. Nicole Godwin's spare, carefully crafted text provides opportunities for young readers to join in Magpie's "swooping", while Susannah Crispe's watercolour illustrations perfectly capture the character of the cheeky magpie dad <...> This is a fabulous way to help young people appreciate a magnificent bird that is an important part of our urban environment."
Stephanie Owen Reeder, Canberra Times, 3 December 2022