Bin Chicken Lights Up the Night by Kate and Jol Temple, illustrated by Ronojoy Ghosh

Title: Bin Chicken Lights Up the Night

Author: Kate and Jol Temple, illustrated by Ronojoy Ghosh

Genre: Humour

Publisher: Scholastic Australia

Published: 1^st September 2025

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 24

Price: $19.99

Synopsis: Bin Chicken’s been flying, feeling quite spent, when … ‘Hey! What’s that marvellous scent?’ Spices fill the air, rice and curries simmer. ‘Delicious,’ she says. ‘That’s my dinner! ‘It’s Diwali, and Ibis has crash-landed in a colourful and bright festival of lights … now is her time to shine!

~*~

Bin Chicken, the white ibis, is back! This time, she’s caught sight of the food, colour and lights of Diwali in the city. She’s into the spices and the rice, the curries and making mischief. It’s all so delicious, but not everyone loves that Bin Chicken has come to say hello and join in the celebrations.

The Bin Chicken series is expanding, bringing in new holidays and food for Bin Chicken to explore and taste. Finding food this time isn’t a problem. It’s also new, and Bin Chicken is set to shine as she explores something new and amazing.

This latest Bin Chicken story from superstar husband-and-wife team, Kate and Jol Temple is a brilliant addition to the series. Bin Chicken goes on many adventures that are often food related, so it’s such fun to see new foods and different foods centred in each book. It showcases the diversity of Australia, as each book has its own focus, and brings something new or unique to life for readers. It can bring holidays and festivals like Diwali to life, and introduce them to readers.

Every book in this series is fun and filled with such joy, and take readers on an adventure into the world of the ibis and what they get up to in the city and when they are around people. The bin chicken is everywhere in cities. Just take a walk through Hyde Park in the middle of Sydney and you’ll see them everywhere.

There’s also something magical about the bin chicken books. The stories are fun and filled with humour, and Ronojoy Ghosh has brought the character and everything she does to life. The vibrant colours dance off the page. The pops of fireworks in this one bring Diwali to life as the characters and people Bin Chicken meets dance, cry out at the ibis, and try to protect their food from the interloper. Poor Bin Chicken just wants to eat and join in the fun after all.

Everything I love about Bin Chicken is in this book. The fun never leaves the bin chicken books, and her journey is such fun to follow. It’s a series that has grown and flourished and captured imaginations. I hope it continues to do so for many years to come.