The Very Stinky Fly Hunt (Andrea Wild, illus Karen Erasmus, CSIRO Publishing)

The Very Stinky Fly Hunt is a lively and humorous narrative nonfiction picture book inspired by the work of real-life dipterist (fly expert) Keith Bayless. Andrea Wild takes children on an entertaining and educational adventure as Dr Keith searches for a fly that may be extinct. His quest to find the Clisa australis – a fly that eats bat poo and typically lives in bat caves and pit toilets – has several false leads before one appears in his tent-trap. The story demonstrates how scientific breakthroughs often rely on luck, not just patience, perseverance and skilled procedure. Through engaging text and playful illustrations by Karen Erasmus, readers discover why Keith is so in love with and fascinated by flies – despite their stinky habits and habitats – and why he chooses to study them. With 25,000 fly species in Australia and fewer than 7000 formally named, these often-overlooked insects are revealed to be both intriguing and essential to the natural world as pollinators and cleaners. The book cleverly uses interactive questions to prompt readers aged 6–9 to hypothesise and think like scientists. Perfect for curious children, The Very Stinky Fly Hunt will appeal to readers who enjoyed Sandra Severgnini’s Dung Beetle on a Roll and Sophie Gillies’ Wombat Poos Are Square. 

Books+Publishing reviewer: Joy Lawn has worked for independent bookshops and blogs at Paperbark Words. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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