The Imagineer
The Imagineer by Christopher Cheng and illustrated by Lucia Masciullo is a National Library of Australia publication and is a sheer delight to read. In this book, Penny is an Imagineer. She uses her imagination to plan all sorts of contraptions and gadgets and enjoys sketching, planning and scribbling out all of her creative ideas. […]
Mina and the Whole Wide World – New Release Book from University of Queensland Press (UQP)
Title: Mina and the Whole Wide World Author: Sherryl Clark With art by: Briony Stewart Publisher: University of Queensland Press – UQP Publication date: July 2, 2021 Themes: Refugees, acceptance, friendship, humanity, courage, belonging, poetry Additional notable information: Teachers’ Notes can be downloaded from the UQP website. Mina and the Whole Wide World by Sherryl […]
Grandfather Emu and How the Kangaroo got her Pouch
Over the weekend I had the absolute pleasure of attending the launch of Grandfather Emu and How the Kangaroo got her Pouch which is Book 1 in the Spirit of the Dreaming Series by Rhonda Collard-Spratt, a Yamatji-Noongar woman and Jacki Ferro, published by Boolarong Press. This title is the first of a five-part […]
Books and Digital Stories about Refugees
Hearing stories about refugees allows children to learn about the reasons why people make the agonising choice to flee their countries and put themselves in life threatening situations in a desperate attempt to seek safety. These stories are gateways to important conversations, they have the power to dismantle bias and encourage empathy and inclusiveness. Escape: […]
Escape, One Day We Had to Run
Escape: One Day We Had To Run is a picture bookby Ming and Wah and illustrated by Carmen Vela. This is a powerful collection of twelve true stories of courage and tenacity in harrowing circumstances. These are stories about desperate people fleeing their homes because of war, famine, slavery, intolerance, economic and political upheaval and […]
The Ballad of Melodie Rose – New Release Book from University of Queensland Press (UQP)
Title: The Ballad of Melodie Rose Author: Kate Gordon Publisher: University of Queensland Press – UQP Publication date: June 1, 2021 Themes: Friendship, belonging, courage, hope, speaking up for what you believe in Additional notable information: Beautiful posters to use for display purposes can be downloaded from the UQP website. There are two poster options […]
The Colour of Music – Book Review and Interview With Matt Ottley
Title: The Colour of Music Author: Lisa Tiffen Illustrator: Matt Ottley Publisher: MidnightSun Publishing Publication date: June 1, 2021 Themes: The power and beauty of music, synaesthesia Synopsis: “Molly can see the music. Colours flash brilliantly as she listens. The music takes her on a journey into a place filled with colour, revealing connections between […]
Sea Country
‘Sea Country’ by Aunty Patsy Cameron, illustrated by Lisa Kennedy and published by Magabala Books transports the reader back to Aunty Cameron’s childhood on Flinders Island in eastern Bass Strait. Her carefree days were spent playing on the beautiful beach teeming with fish and searching for treasure in the form of shells, playing with her […]
Kunyi
‘Kunyi’ by Kunyi June Anne McInerney tells her story in this picture book about being forcibly removed from her family and home when she was four years old to live with the missionaries at the Oodnadatta Children’s Home in the 1950s. This is a story of dispossession, loss, fear, courage, resilience and friendship. Kunyi tells […]
The Valley of Lost Secrets
Themes: World War II history, evacuees, family, secrets, mining communities, small town communities, unsolved disappearance. For ages 9+ This tender story is set in a small coal mine village in South Wales, during the beginning of World War II in 1939. Children are evacuated from Islington, London and sent to live with families in Wales […]