SOLVED. Children's Picture Book set in the jungle/ forest/ trees with vivid colourful imagery. Very bright, colourful patterns. Published 1980s/early 1990s? [s]

[Arielle]

bumping - any luck, Rachel?

You said forest/jungle and Australian author, so it's most likely not Olive, the Other Reindeer (author lives in San Francisco), but the artwork is somewhat similar in style... https://www.amazon.com/Olive-Other-Re...

[Mir]

Any chance it is Jan Ormerod? She is Australian and her book Lizzie Nonsense had a family living in a forest. The mother and daughter were waiting while the father was away working. That's probably not old enough, but she has older stuff (as far back the 1980s) that I haven't read.

[Rachel]

No luck yet and unfortunately it isn't either of these two I'm sorry. Thank you for bumping and for all your help but you can just delete this question if you like as I feel like a real ongoing nuisance! I'm sure I'll come across it one day when I'm not even looking for it :-)

Kind wishes,
Rachel

[Justanotherbiblophile]

Rachel wrote: "you can just delete this question if you like as I feel like a real ongoing nui..."

It's only been 5 years, and barely bumped at all - we've found stuff older than this, and the group hasn't even been around a couple decades.

Just put this on your end-of-the-month cleaning list (to bump and catch up on suggestions) until it's found.

[Amanda]

Bit of a long shot and not Australian, but maybe The Children in the Jungle?

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Rachel wrote: "No luck yet and unfortunately it isn't either of these two I'm sorry. Thank you for bumping and for all your help but you can just delete this question if you like as I feel like a real ongoing nui..."

Rachel, no unsolved thread is a nuisance (no matter how old). That's what the group is here for, don't give up yet.

[Adele]

This seems quite promising to me: Rainforest Children

You can see the cover and multiple interior pictures here: https://www.amazon.com/Rainforest-Chi... Note that the thumbnails frequently don't show the colorful picture you see when you click.

[Rachel]

Thank you for the kind words of encouragement all! :-)

Sorry Amanda I don't think it was The Children in the Jungle but I really appreciate the suggestion!

Adele - although Rainforest Children doesn't look or sound familiar it seems to be the closest match yet!! Thank you very much. Perhaps it is the one. I'll try to get my hands on a copy. The images really are close to what I remember and the theme and date align too.

[Adele]

I'm glad Rainforest Children looks promising. It won some awards so it might have been something that would be read to you in school. The first edition had a green cover in case that looks more familiar: https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Book...

But if it's not it - don't worry! - I, like everyone else here - enjoy the challenge. :-)

[Rachel]

Hahaha I'm glad to hear it! Thanks heaps Adele :-)

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Still looking now?

[Rachel]

Still haven't come across it, but it's okay, you can close this thread if you like. I might stumble across it one day :-)

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

We don't usually close threads - they can stay open indefinitely, as long as you are still interested in finding the book.

We encourage people to bump their thread every few months to get new members reading it.

[Rachel]

Ok thank you, in that case it can just stay open then, I'm still eager to hopefully one day track it down!

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Actually though you should add plot details to your header. That helps to get your thread noticed.

[Florence]

long shot but Elmer the Elmer books, Where the Wild Things Are and Corky and the Tree Folk are all ones that come to mind thinking of forest/jungle illustrations.

[Rachel]

None of those unfortunately, but thanks for the suggestions Florence :-)

[Sarah]

Hi,
Is there any chance it could be The Umbrella, by Jan Brett? That was a gorgeously drawn story about the rainforest. Or the Great Kapok Tree?

[Rainbowheart]

I know you said early '90s, could it have been pubbed as late as '94?

[Rachel]

Neither of those I'm sorry Sarah :-(

Rainbowheart it's more likely 80's I think as I was read it in primary school. 1994 would have been too late.

[Nancy]

How about RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE? It's been a favorite with my family for a couple of generations.

[Adele]

Rachel, just to confirm have you definitively ruled out The Rainforest Children as a possibility?

[Rachel]

Hi Nancy, not it unfortunately though that does look like a delightful read!
Adele, no I'm sorry it isn't I'm afraid :-(

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Moving out of Abandoned - not sure why it was there.

[Rainbowheart]

The Zabajaba Jungle?

A Nice Walk in the Jungle?

The Children in the Jungle?

[Adele]

Here are some new possibilities I came across:

Aldita and the Forest

The Drover's Dream (hard to find pictures but here is one - https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Book... )

Perhaps one of the Possum Creek stories: Professor Cockatoo's Amazing Weather Dust

[Rachel]

Thank you Rainbowheart and Adele, I really appreciate your suggestions, unfortunately none of those look familiar. Thanks for trying though :-)

[Rainbowheart]

Long shot, Mrs Millie's Painting?

Only mentioned because it is Australian and involves a jungle.

[Rachel]

Sorry it's not that either.

It could very well be this: https://www.brianwildsmith.com/the-la... or another title by this author. Very similar colouring to what I remember. It didn't give me the "that's it!" moment, but perhaps because it was so long ago my child brain hasn't remembered it correctly. Thank you for your continued patience!

[Rainbowheart]

It looks like Wildsmith was published in Australia by Oxford University Press, so that could be a lead.

These seem like they might have jungly scenes?

[Rachel]

Thank you! The more I look the more I think it could be this author. All these colourful images are definitely what I'm remembering. I'll look into this author further :-)
https://www.brianwildsmith.com/puzzles

[Lacey]

Could it be "Hey, Al" by Arthur Yorinks?

[Rainbowheart]

Hey, Al for Lacey's suggestion.

[Rachel]

Thank you both very much, I'm pretty sure it's Brian Wildsmith. Looked at more of his illustrations and it's exactly the type of colours and patterns I remember.
https://fishinkblog.com/2015/03/16/br...
I think I'll be able to trace the book now I have the author! 👏🎉 really appreciate everyone's help and persistence.

[Kris]

Goodreads link - Brian Wildsmith

I copied a few book details to the topic header. Feel free to edit it.

[Kris]

Do you think the colors are brighter, sunnier than Jungle Party by Brian Wildsmith?

https://www.brianwildsmith.com/jungle...

[Adele]

Following from the link Kris provided for Jungle Party, I found this page that shows all Brian Wildsmith's books by decade with the original covers. That might help trigger your memory: https://www.brianwildsmith.com/the-books

If you click on the books you can see lots of interior illustrations too, but the page says if the books are still in print the link is to the current edition.

[Rachel]

I think it was The Owl And The Woodpecker everyone!!
https://www.brianwildsmith.com/the-ow...
Thank you for the link Adele :-) and everyone else for your amazing help. Cannot thank you enough!

[Kris]

Great! Glad you found your book, Rachel. Thanks for the update.

The Owl and the Woodpecker by Brian Wildsmith.

[Adele]

Yay! And it only took twelve years. lol

[Rachel]

Holy moly was it that long! Haha wow ;-)

[Fresno Bob]

I just want to say how wonderful it is that quests like this get solved after 12 years, keep on bumping people!

[Kris]

Hi Fresno Bob! Good to see you.