Priya the Platypus - On the Move: Animal Adventures, #5

By Dave Adair

Priya the Platypus - On the Move follows in the webbed feet steps of an eight year old platypus named Priya.

The story takes place in the countryside of New South Wales, Australia. It is told from the point of view of an eight year old platypus named Priya. Priya and her fellow platypus friend Prunella, lead a nomadic life due to environmental threats, such as land clearing and bush fires. A range of different wildlife who calls New South Wales their home is also impacted by these environmental concerns. These creatures include Bruce the brushturkey and a green and golden bell frog called Georgina.

The reader gets to explore the interesting habitat of the platypus, whilst at the same time, enjoying a true to life based story featuring the wondrous creatures of Australia. Laney the long-nosed bandicoot will delight with her intriguing pouch, as she tries to find a forever home. This is where the theme of nature lending a helping hand is thoroughly explored, as Prunella, Laney, and Bruce the brushturkey assist the other creatures forced to flee from land clearing or bush fire devastation.

The theme of nature sticking together and that the life of New South Wales creatures isn't always what you read in nature books, flows through the story like a stream. Friendship is also covered thoroughly through Priya's relationship with Bruce, Georgina and Prunella, alongside others.

There is an environmentally conscious theme that is explored through warnings about the devastation that land clearing and bush fires can cause to habitats. The main theme of pulling together to get through trouble and strife comes out, as a range of animals group together to find new homes.

This book is aimed to support independent reading for those aged seven and upwards. It is a great story to start off on independent reading, and to begin a journey in habitat learning.

*Advisory Note

This story is designed to reflect the reality of nature in the habitat in which it is set. Therefore, some scenes such as Priya's fight for survival against Walter the water rat, in the first chapter, may require some parental commentary. This said the chapter goes to great lengths to explain the events that are happening and the rules of nature dictating this behaviour.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dave Adair
• Release date: Oct 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223394181

Dave Adair

I have also published another book of my plays entitled 'SHORTS' and also two children’s’ books; 'Harry the Tortoise (is on his way)' and ‘Bryony the Blue-Footed Booby’. My aim, always, when writing is to make reading fun. This is why I chose to write 'Harry the Tortoise (is on his way)' from the point of view of a strawberry obsessed; red-footed tortoise. A theme I continued when choosing to write ‘Bryony the Blue-Footed Booby’ from the point of view of a blue-footed booby living in the Galapagos Islands. I hope you enjoy my work.

Book preview

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the memory of Wendy Rosemary Adair, who in life provided much needed support, inspiration, and comfort when it was most needed.

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Priya the Platypus - On the Move

Contents

Copyright

Chapter 1: Fight for Your Life

Chapter 2: My Friend Prunella

Chapter 3: Land Clearing

Chapter 4: Laney's New Home

Chapter 5: Where’s Prunella?

Chapter 6: Bruce’s Family

Chapter 7: On the Move, Again

Chapter 8: Wowsers

Chapter 9: Let’s Dance

Books by this Author

Chapter 1: Fight for Your Life

Hi, my name is Priya the Platypus, I’m 8 years old ... oh no, hold on, this will have to wait, I’m afraid. No time for introductions. I’m being hotly pursued by Walter; a water rat. He is a menace and wants me for lunch. It’s not happening though, I can see my burrow a few yards away, and I’ll leap right in there and take stock. Phew, I made it.

It’s not good enough though, the water rat can fit in here and I can tell that he won’t give up. I need to do something. Not just that, I need to do something now because it is attacking me. I’m a female, male platypuses have venom that they can unleash from their upper thigh. I don’t so I need to do something else. Walter is not giving up; he is being a pest and is making it clear that he wants to eat me. I’m not being lunch for anything, not today. Walter is strong and can take on large prey, even swans that are far bigger than me. However, he won’t, I repeat won’t, defeat me. 

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I can, and I will fight back. Uuuggh, I am pushing this bulky rat back to the river. That is it, back into the water we go. I need to be in the water to be able to defend myself. If Walter wants a fight then he can jolly well have one. He keeps on lunging at me, I need to get a hold of him, but I need to be careful, really careful. Water rats generally, I’m sure your nature books will tell you are predators to platypus like me. However, I need to tell you that nature is not as simple as that. Platypus can and will fight back. Uuuggh, just like I am doing now.

Right, the tussle and fight is real. We are grappling like drunken humans. I know that my strength is in my hind legs, I need to get hold of Walter and take away his strength and advantage.

I’m going to try the best that I can, to take the fight out of him. Here goes, come here you dirty rat. He keeps moving back and lunging forward to bite me with those