It is quite incredulous that no one thought the ladies working in Parliament in many different roles would need to go to the loo during their working day.

Eleri Harris' story and terrific, often humours illustrations tell this story in a way that readers will be surprised and also learn a considerable amount about the people who represented the people of Australia in Parliament.

On their first day in Parliament when Dame Enid Lyons and Dame Dorothy Tangney were looking for the women's toilet they were surprised to find there wasn't one. The men just hadn't considered that women who would sit in Parliament, never mind considering the women who worked there daily. Some had to go home or walk to another building when they wanted "to go". We just can't imagine that today.

Amazingly it took decades for this to change but thanks to some insistent women it did, eventually. While the story of of this dilemma is a main focus it is not the only one. Readers will go onto learn about the changes brought about by our first female Parliamentarians and to be thankful for their reforms. They will also read about Enid Lyons and Dorothy Tangney and why they wanted to stand for election and about the first Parliament House which is now a museum that most likely this age group has visited on a school excursions to Canberra.

A Loo Of One's Own is terrific picture book, informative, humorous and serious with expressive illustrations. Every Australian child should read it. We loved it!

The author

Eleri Harris is an award-winning cartoonist, journalist and editor working on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country in Australia's national capital. Her non-fiction history, science and reportage comics have been exhibited and published all over the world. A Loo of One's Own is her first book for children.