- “Not Just A Pretty Face: Inspiration From The Animal World” ISBN: 9781922785275.
- “Unusual Animal Friendships: Love Found in Unexpected Places” ISBN: 9781925946857.
- Publisher: Rockpool Publishing Australia.
- Author: None specified (In house design).
- RRP: AUD $22.99.
- Release dates: Published: July / Aug 2025
- Product type: Rockpool Gift Decks.
- Review by: Kim Goldsmith (Cosmic Snail Tarot).
In this review I will compare two new quirky gift decks with animal themes by Rockpool Publishing. “Not Just A Pretty Face: Inspiration From The Animal World” contains painted portraits of unusual and unique animals. On the backs there are some interesting facts about the animals as well as an affirmation. “Unusual Animal Friendships” on the other hand, has paintings of unexpected animal pairings snuggling up to each other with an inspirational quote on the back. I would describe both items as affirmation decks. Characteristics or behaviours of animals are used to create a positive message for you to contemplate.
Both decks include 24 cards with the same satin feel card stock that is a bit wider than a playing card. “Unusual Animal Friendships” is read in a horizontal format whereas “Not Just a Pretty Face” is in portrait format. The lollipop colour scheme (pinks, blues, oranges, yellows and greens) of both decks and the packaging have a fun, vibrant feeling. These are great gifts for people who might not be spiritually inclined but need a bit of motivation and positive energy in their day and for their journalling. The size of the decks is ideal for travel or your day bag. But the downside is that the fliptop on the boxes doesn’t stay closed. A magnet would have resolved this issue. I suggest putting it in a pouch or closing it with an elastic band.
There isn’t much depth to the content of the decks – what you see is what you get. The messages act as playful reminders to change your mindset or improve your behaviour. I was pleasantly surprised by the “Not just a pretty face” deck – some of the animals make me giggle looking at them which put me in a good mood in the morning. The brief facts on the back also prompted me to do some further research online. I love strange creatures but some people may not. Tweens and teenagers may like using this deck because it is educational. I want to bring the deck to the zoo to observe if the animals’ behaviour and looks match the cards!
If you want a small gift for an animal lover, but the animals in “Not just a pretty face” are too creepy or weird for you, then try out the “Animal Friendships” deck instead. The messages are uplifting and relatable. You don’t need any specialist knowledge in tarot or oracle reading as these decks focus less on spirituality and more on general affirmations and quotes. I prefer the “Not just a pretty face” deck because I like the intimate portrait style artwork and the little bits of knowledge gained about the animals. I don’t think I will personally use these decks but would definitely give them to friends who aren’t into tarot and oracle decks. “Animal Friendships” would be a good gift for a close friend to reinforce their connection.
Neither deck is made for spreads or readings. They don’t come with guidebooks, and the imagery is uncomplicated. There aren’t the nuances of symbolism you would find in a tarot deck. However, you could drop in a card at the end of a reading about friendships or relationships as a final affirmation to a client.
The quotes at the back of the “Unusual Animal Friendships” deck are mostly taken from philosophers or authors. A couple of my favourite cards include “Silences make the real conversations between friends. Not the saying but the never needing to say is what counts.” This card features a rabbit and a black and white cat sniffing each other. There was little I could find online about Margaret Lee Runbeck. She was an author who died in 1956, wrote 16 novels and was a humanitarian who lived for a time in India. Another card I enjoyed has a quote by Emily Dickinson on the back: “ A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out”; a monkey cradles a pigeon on the card front. The quotes are simple and profound, and are something you could keep on your work desk for encouragement.
The “Not just a pretty face” deck has comments like “Find your direction” then relates this to qualities associated with whatever animal is pictured. Horseshoe bats use ‘echolocation’ to give them a way to locate their prey, and the message of the card suggests that you too can find your own way.
Both decks are light, nicely designed and have cute or strange animals on each card, which will bring humour and positivity into your day. I recommend either deck as excellent birthday gifts or Christmas stocking fillers for animal lovers.
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