Australia—loving a sunburnt country
Ages 2 - 6
Peggy is a really appealing book to read with someone who is mad for chickens, or worried about new experiences, maybe a homebody—they’ll relate to Peggy’s yearning for home, someone who is a bit too busy to notice the joy and fun in life, or deeply attached to a routine - or keen to try new things!
Spring is beautiful in Australians. Beautiful and terrifying! You can be happily walking down the street, a street you walk down every day, and then suddenly silent black and white wings of death attack you from above! That’s right, Magpie Season!
Ages 2 - 9
At the moment they are fascinated with the book Moonwalkers by Matthew Greenwood and Terry Denton. It’s quite a long book but the story and illustrations keep them interested time after time.
ages 2 to 12 years
A perfect Australian Christmas picture book, it’s the story of Kathleen – a little girl who lives along Australia’s Nullarbor Plain – and of the Tea and Sugar Train which used to travel across the Plain each week. A charming balance to the OTT commercialism that sometimes surrounds Christmas.
ages 2 to 8 years
As you can see, this is a fun, beautifully illustrated book. Great for ages 2 to 8 years. Which makes it perfect for Ivy and Angus.
They’re both pet-obsessed. We have a dog, but there is always another pet we should get. So far this year the list has included a horse, lamb, little dog with a curly tail, guinea pig, rabbit, hamster, pig and a big dog that can be friends with our dog… but NOT a snake! Thankfully.
In all this discussion and dreaming of pets, ‘Outback Pets’ by Therese Hall and Geoff Cook has become an all-round favourite in our house
ages 3 to grownup
I’ve been a John Williamson fan since childhood and a few months ago we were lucky enough to go to one of his concerts as a family. Amazing. There's really nothing quite like a live performance.
During intermission, I came across Christmas in Australia. I had no idea John Williamson had written a children’s book and just had to buy it—my only regret was that the kids were so exhausted by the end of the show we couldn't wait in the line to get it
ages 5 to 10 years
When you’re young, history is learned in snatches—a story here, an idea there—all designed to offer a sense of one's own place in the history that is being made today. Trouble is, the snatches approach can sometimes inadvertently lead to whitewashed or selective understanding.
If you’re looking to share snatches of Australian history that are respectful, balanced, and full of interest, M is for Mutiny is perfect.
ages 6 to grownup
It seems almost dystopian that there was a time when Aboriginal people were not counted in the population statistics. And when the laws and powers that were held by each State government resulted in segregation and broad discrimination...
ages 0 to 8 years
"I'd say that's udderly fantastic!" - Ruby, agronomist
We’re all fans of the George the Farmer series. Knowing where food comes from and how it’s produced is empowering. Kids and adults alike need to know the process, and ideally we’d all know how to produce a little food ourselves too .... George’s stories are information rich and this time we learn about Ruby .... She’s an agronomist and is called on to help Alex who runs a robotic dairy.
ANZAC Day is named after the day the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed at Gallipoli in World War 1—the 25th of April 1915. In Australia and New Zealand the day is commemorated each year and has become one of our most important national days. It’s a day replete with stories of valour, courage, kindness, and good natured shenanigans.
These five are by no means the only lovely books to read around Anzac Day but they are exceptional.
ages 2 to 8 years
One of my uncles was a pilot for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) a few years ago—it was a terribly romantic profession. The goodness and ingenuity of the RFDS is widely agreed upon all around Australia. But, as Australia continues to be quickly urbanised, fewer of us have personal connections and stories about the Flying Doctors and the pilots and the nurses. That’s where Meet the Flying Doctors comes in
ages 6 years to adult
Have you seen this website? It’s a collection of personal testimonies from people of the Stolen Generation. They're so very personal and real that I feel like a welcome, if naïve, guest. Each testimony includes a short personal statement
We do love our sunburnt country. Even when it’s been scorching hot (where we are) for weeks—and even with all its faults and growing pains. We love the kindness of its people, the beauty of its landscapes, the welcome in its Anthem and the camaraderie of its holidays.
ages just pre-teen to adult
You don’t get much more Australian than the poem Waltzing Matilda by Banjo Paterson. It’s pretty much our unofficial National Anthem and has the true feel of the Australian bush.... The iconic poem is given a new perspective in this historic novel by Jackie French. Set in Sydney in 1894, A Waltz for Matilda is the story of a courageous and determined young girl (Matilda)
Set in Australia, Amazing Animals is great non-fiction with cross generational appeal. There are lots of quick facts to grab, plus longer passages of information, both chock full of interesting information. It's permanently on our side table.
ages 2 years to adult
The remarkable true story of a horse and his trainer show what it is to lead and care for others.
ages 2 to 10 years
ages 6 to 12 years
An inspiring story about perseverance and appreciating the natural world. A boy and his uncle embark on an amazing hike through the magnificent Grampian mountain ranges. Not everything goes to plan, but there's physical and metaphorical beauty each step of the way.
Set in Australia. A sweet wombat revels in the beauty of an Australian high-country winter, complete with snow on gum trees. A celebration of an Australian winter and the joy of finding your way home.
ages newborn to 8 years
ages 2 to 8 years
Did you know that if a sheep is ready for shearing it’s important that they don’t get wet? Or that a shearer can shear up to 200 sheep a day? Or that the record for shearing a sheep is 1 minute and 30 seconds? All this and more in 'George'.
Set in Australia, one family and a caravan take it on the road! Delightfully insightful look at family relations and the gorgeousness and diversity of Australia - through the eyes of a child.
ages 4 to 12 years
Australia is a wildly diverse country with so very much to marvel at and to love - here is a stunning and beautifully crafted reminder of why so many of us 'love a sunburnt country'.
all ages / coffee table, s.o.s.e.
ages 2 to grown-up
Some stories have a profound message – one that everyone needs to hear more than once – one that is just as relevant to a toddler as it is to the toddler’s grandpa. This isYou and Me Murrawee.
The story is told as the musings of a young girl – maybe 10 or 12 years old – who has a gift for seeing what is no longer present.
The girl is on a family camping trip in the Australian bush and, as she plays and paddles and watches her family, she senses the life of an indigenous girl, 200 years ago, doing many of the same things she is doing.
Bigsy is a farm dog – but he doesn’t fit the stereotype. He has short legs and a long body (his dad is a sausage dog) and plenty of chutzpah. He’ll take on everything!
ages baby to 6 years / funny, heartwarmers
ages baby to grownup
Which moments in life matter to you? A new Baby? Learning to ride a bike? An evening under a night sky sequinned with stars? A restless night spent worrying? In moments like these, The Flying Orchestra comes to town.
ages baby to about 8 years
As food security becomes an increasing global issue, the importance of treating food with respect and appreciation becomes more pressing - enter George and Ruby!
A parent's fondest wishes charmingly expressed with Alison Lester's classic illustrations - a perfect new born or baby gift (for the parents or the baby).
ages newborn to grown-up / Australia, heartwarmers
ages baby to 8 years
Chock full of delight, this is the story of Bilby, who really isn’t interested in books. All of Bilby's friends are part of a book club and they love to read, but Bilby is a fidgeter and he just isn’t interested in reading. But then, through a conspiracy of circumstances, Bilby ends up reading just one book—The Terrifying Adventures of Big Brave Bilby—and he is hooked.
ages 8 years to grownup
"Carefully, she unties the string and folds back the brown paper. Inside the parcel is a pine cone."
Based on a true story, Lone Pine tells of a young soldier who is at Lone Pine with his brother while yet another brother is also at war elsewhere. The young soldier survives, but his brother doesn’t.
This is tough stuff. It’s poignantly told and is full of sadness. But out of the sadness there is also hope and love. The soldier sends a pine cone from Lone Pine to his mother. She treasures it of course and puts it away where it lies "not quite remembered, not quite forgotten." [The story is set in Australia and Turkey]
ages 5 years to grownup
Set in Australia. There’s something special about Anzac Day—the cool early morning spent standing with a crowd at the Dawn Service, family breakfasts, and of course Anzac Biscuits to nibble on all day.
And the sense of privilege and peace that comes with living in a free and protected country.
As is true of all war stories, Anzac Biscuits is pretty horrific, but a story that must be told: to remember history, to notice everyday blessings and to understand sacrifice. It does a particularly lovely job of the noticing everyday blessings and understanding sacrifice parts.
Every road trip my family went on when I was young was accompanied by John Williamson songs; all of us singing away is a core childhood memory. It’s a tradition we happily continue with our own kids.
I was so excited when I saw that one of my favourite (and most relatable) songs My Dad Snores has been made into a picture book.