From Gentle Laughter and Side-Splitting Humor to Visions Glorious to Behold

San Mateo, Calif. – May 21, 2007 – Koala Jo Publishing today announced the release of its title KLASSIC KOALAS: MR. DOUGLAS' KOALAS AND THE STARS OF QANTAS, edited by Joanne Ehrich. It contains the photographs from a private collection and the best of Qantas koala advertorials from over three decades.

Asleep, awake, and ready for anything, the koalas cared for by wildlife carer Peter Douglas present their most adorable faces to the camera in these priceless shots, taken over a thirty-year period. Under Douglas’s watchful eye, and sometimes accompanied by his young son, koalas were photographed in all manner of settings, protected from “pet” status yet allowed to display their unique curiosity for the delight of observers. Unseen by the general public, these pictures, accompanied by famous, witty one-liners, will make you smile and laugh as they demonstrate yet again the irresistible nature of Australia’s most beloved marsupial.

Whether they’re dressed for a party, having a family breakfast, or investigating the wild blue yonder or the mysteries of photography, the expressions on the faces of these wonderful creatures will win your heart. The accompanying one-liners, each singularly appropriate to pose or expression, will make you laugh out loud – or allow you to give the precious gift of laughter to a friend or relative, young or old.

And if you think your eyes are deceiving you, they’re not—that’s really an albino koala in some of the pictures, just as winsome as his more-pigmented brethren—yet a reminder that, without human intervention, the koala may become a mere ghost of a memory. Albino koalas in the wild are rare, since they lack protective coloration and are particularly vulnerable to predators. These photos of the rarest of the rare are a real treasure.

Also included in this delightful book are some of the most renowned Qantas ads featuring koalas. These classic publicity shots from the 1960s through ’80s exhibit all the charm that helped cement Australia’s position as a hot tourist destination, and also help to evoke the carefree feel of the period.

About the Author:
Illustrator and editor Joanne Ehrich lives in San Mateo, California, USA, where she works as a graphic designer, with emphasis on print-, Web-, and user-interface design, and as an illustrator. She has attended photography trade school and holds a University degree in printmaking. Joanne has created numerous etchings, lithographs, and monotype prints, as well as paintings of animals and landscapes. She is also the author, editor, and designer of critically acclaimed Koalas: Moving Portraits of Serenity.


Availability
Order Information: KLASSIC KOALAS: MR. DOUGLAS' KOALAS AND THE STARS OF QANTAS, by Joanne Ehrich; ISBN: 978-0-9764698-4-1; softcover, 80 Pages; 36 photographs; Category: Humor/Animals; May 21, 2007; $31.99 USD; Koala Jo Publishing, San Mateo, CA; Distributed to the trade by Baker & Taylor, Brodart, Blackwells, and S&B Books wholesalers. For international and online orders please visit http://www.koalajo.com/Koalas_Stars_of_Qantas.html.


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