The Platypus of Christmas Creek – The True Story of a Miracle Rescue by Sophie Cunningham, illustrated by Anil Tortop

Title: The Platypus of Christmas Creek – The True Story of a Miracle Rescue

Author: Sophie Cunningham, illustrated by Anil Tortop

Genre: Non-fiction

Publisher: Allen and Unwin

Published: 1^st September 2026

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 24

Price: $19.99

Synopsis: The heartwarming true story of a lost-and-found baby platypus, from the bestselling creators of Tippy and Jellybean.

Little Platypus lives with his mother in a beautiful mountain creek.
He loves to tumble and splash in the clear water.

One summer day, not long after Christmas, Little Platypus decides to go on a big adventure, but he ends up lost and alone, far from home …

This is the miraculous true story of a little baby platypus rescued and cared for until he was ready to return to his home in the wild at Christmas Creek.

Also available by bestselling duo Sophie Cunningham and Anil Tortop:

Tippy and Jellybean – The True Story of a Brave Koala who Saved her Baby from a Bushfire
Flipper and Finnegan – The True Story of How Tiny Jumpers Saved Little Penguins
Mango and Hopscotch – The Inspiring Story of a Brave Kangaroo and her Joey Rescued from Floodwaters

This book is perfect for
– kids who love true stories of amazing animal rescue
– celebrating a miraculous good news story, and the dedicated work of vets and animal conservationists
– festive holiday reading

~*~

One day, a baby platypus heads off on a big adventure not long after Christmas, far from the mountain creek he lives in and his mother. But Little Platypus soon finds himself lost and far from home. He’s found by two cyclists and taken to a wildlife centre, where they care for him until they can take him home to Christmas Creek.

In this delightfully festive true story, Sophie Cunningham and anil Tortop have brought a new wildlife story to life, celebrating Australian wildlife and the wonderful people that work to save them, keep them safe, and eventually, get them back into the wild where practicable. Each scenario in all of Sophie and Anil’s books has been different and ensures that stories are entertaining, emotional and informative.

As we follow Little Platypus’s story, it gives readers a sense of what animal rescues do in a fun and accessible way, in a way that younger readers can understand and where older readers will see what it really means to rescue an animal.

It’s also poignant, as it reminds us how precious Australian animals are, how much they impact our ecosystems. Little Platypus’s journey is special and important, and it’s a very different Christmas read from what we typically might see.

I love reading Christmas stories with an Australian bent, because most stories and movies we see in Australia are based in the northern hemisphere.

As fun as these are, it’s always great to see the Australian experience reflected in Christmas books, because our Christmas in summer is so different to the snowy, winter one that is entrenched in our popular culture. We need more Australian stories set around Christmas., more stories about the good things that are happening in this world, and books that are just [ure fun.  

This is another beautiful picture book that I think readers of all ages will enjoy. It captures the beauty of nature and caring for the environment in a world where these things might not always be there, and it shows us what it means to truly care. It’s a lovely book filled with hope and joy, and a sense that the world is a good place, and that good people exist I this world when it feels like everything is falling apart.