Dropbear tells the story of a koala and rumors in the forest around him. The rhyming text has hints of humor and provides a good story for young readers. Would be good for teaching students about rumors and gossip. For grades 1-4.

Dropbear is another wonderful addition to Philip Buntings picture books. The story follows a group of woodland creatures who share spooky tales about a feared creature known as the Dropbear, said to lurk in the treetops. However not all is as it appears.
My two boys 3 and 6 enjoyed this one with the 3 year old probably being more in the targeted age group. Illustrations are once again brilliant!
Philip Bunting is unsurprisingly our favourite children’s author in our household!!

The illustrations in this book are SO cute! (Really, I'd pay to have a poster of the cover!) The story is simple and sweet, but may better suited for the younger side of the 2-5 range it's pitched to. I added this one to my little guy's wishlist for when it comes out!

I loved this book. It was charming, suspenseful, funny and thought-provoking.

If you’re learning about Australian animals, this book is a must-have. Not only do several different animals make an appearance, but it’s a really fun way to both introduce and debunk a humorous contemporary Australian myth about predatory marsupials dropping from trees to attack humans.

It’s written in an engaging rhyming format with appealing illustrations.

I really like that one little bird solves the Dropbear mystery by simply questioning the rumours the animals are spreading, and deciding to look for actual proof. That’s a good lesson for all of us — not to just blithely believe whatever we’re told.

The recommended age range is 2-5, but honestly, I think up to 7-year-olds will enjoy it!

What can I say? My nearly 5 year old and I love it!

We’ve read this one a few times for our bedtime story and it’s become a request to hold in our hands.

I requested an ARC because I had run into the dropbear tall tale in a couple of different books I previously read.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed by the ARC.

The pictures are very cute. Truly, they are too cute. So is the story. I prefer dropbears remain mysterious and somewhat evil. This book undermined that premise.

I absolutely loved Dropbear! This book is funny, clever, and surprisingly sweet. The rhyming text is fun to read aloud, and little ones will enjoy the spooky-silly mood that slowly turns into something much more tender.
Philip Bunting’s signature humor shines through, and the illustrations are full of personality and charm. I especially appreciated the message: things aren’t always what they seem, and sometimes, the scariest creatures are just misunderstood (and maybe even a little lonely).
A great pick for storytime, bedtime, or any time a young reader needs a giggle and a reminder to be kind.
Thank you to Charlesbridge and NetGalley for the ARC!

So cute and fun! The illustrations are great, good rhyming that makes for a fun, fast-paced read, and a lovely twist at the end! We've read a few others by this author/illustrator and have really enjoyed them. Thanks for the ARC!

Cute book. I love the cuddly looking illustrations and storyline is relatable. I believe young children (preschool-second grade) will really connect with this one.

An absolutely hilarious guide to staying safe from Australia's most fearsome predator. While young readers might need reassurance that dropbears are, in fact, a fiction, everyone is sure to get a laugh out of this rhyming romp.

I was drawn to the book because of the cover and knew it was going to be good. It was exactly the kind of book I'd seek out to read to my preschool class. I admit I had to Google what a "dropbear" was, but nevertheless I think it was lighthearted, humorous, and something any lover of quirky children's books would enjoy.

Though the illustrations are charming, the book didn't have a lot of substance to it and left me wanting more of a story to engage with.

Netgalley ARC - A fun if a little spooky picture book with tense short phrases that build the drama until... DROP! and I won't spoil what happens after that :)

My lovely American friend sent me the NetGalley link for this captioned "i found the perfect book for you" - and she was right. I am absolutely the kind of Australian who has told tourists about dropbears in a serious tone... (also the hoop snake)

I'm a big fan of Philip Bunting's picture books anyway but this one is particularly good - not only is it an introduction to the dreaded (and fictional) dropbear - but it's also a cautionary tale about listening to rumors instead of finding out the truth for yourself...

I certainly have fond memories of my first time getting to hug a dropbear (ok fine, it was a koala), i didn't even have any Vegemite smeared behind my ears.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader's digital copy.

Beware of Dropbear. He lives up high in a tree and drops on animals passing by. All the animals talk about Dropbear, but bird wants to see for herself. She wants to know the truth. Come to find out Dropbear just wants a . . . hug!

Love Phillip Buntings books and so do my first graders. I am sure this one will be a hit. I love the humor, the rumors and LOVE the answer. Can’t wait to share this one with others!!

Humorous and mysterious. A silly story about a "drop bear" and Australian creatures judging them. Could have been improved with more real animal facts at the end.

The rhyming text gives this story easy flow for the reader. It is a story, but it's on the shorter side. Surprisingly, this doesn't take away from the story as that can be the case with some picture books. This book will have children laughing and wondering what will happen next, it also shows the importance of not believing everything you hear and that you should never judge a book by it's cover. The final page explaining that this is a real fake joke that happens in Australia was the cherry on top! I'd recommend this book for ages 4+.

I thought this was adorable and sweet! It made me giggle! I like my kid’s books with a tiny more meat to the story, especially with the reading level it’s set out. But this is a cute story! Good for early readers and fun.

I'd never heard of the dropbear story in Australia before, but I find it hilarious and will definitely be on the lookout for anyone trying to scare me with it if I go there. This is a funny book with a sweet lesson about looking at situations differently, as well as being the one to reach out and take a chance on what others may see as scary (within reason of course.) It was nice to see the dreaded, adorable dropbear/koala get what he was always looking for, and to see the other animals in the book come around in friendship, too. The rhymes are easy to read with a tangible meter that makes them amenable for story time sessions, and I like that the book takes place at night deep in the bush, with high contrasts in the illustrations. This is also a nice introduction to Australian mammals and birds, and I can see children taking turns in guessing what the dropbear looks like and what he wants. The only question I had throughout the book is whether the dropbear/koala was actively growling or making a fuss within the trees that truly came off as scary, or whether the animals on the ground simply misinterpreted his moving around and attempted messages. I lean towards the latter, although he does seem like a cheeky little fellow, if only slightly, so it may be a little of both.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Charlesbridge, for this DRC in exchange for a fair and honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Beware of the legend of the drop bear. Hear the stories from creatures of the outback as they learn whether or not the stories are real.

This is a great, fun book. It's got a wonderful rhyming cadence, with excellent illustrations. It's funny and sweet while providing a lesson about learning to differentiate fact from fiction. This would be a great book for a storytime/read-aloud for kids ages 4-8. It's engaging enough to keep kids' attention and focus. Definitely a great kids book!