The Concrete Garden
Written during COVID times with clues in the illustrations to reflect this, The Concrete Garden by Bob Graham, celebrates the profound ripple effect one child’s creative actions can have on their community and further afield. After being inside for an extended period, an apartment block filled with children from diverse backgrounds, comes to life as […]
The Kindness Project
Deborah Abela has cleverly positioned readers to walk in the shoes of the four protagonists in her debut verse novel, The Kindness Project. This story holds a mirror up to middle grade readers who may feel different to their peers and/or are navigating change and adversity in their lives. In this story, four seemingly very […]
Three Dresses
Title: Three Dresses Author and illustrator: Wanda Gibson Publisher: University of Queensland Press (UQP) Publication date: April 2024 Themes: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander customs and beliefs, impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, surviving colonisation and Protection Acts, life on Aboriginal missions, identity and belonging, connection to Country Comprehensive teachers’ notes which include numerous […]
Leo and Ralph
Title: Leo and Ralph Author and illustrator: Peter Carnavas Publisher: University of Queensland Press (UQP) Publication date: February 2024 Themes: Friendship, imaginary friends, alienation, vulnerability, acceptance, space. Teachers’notes are available from the UQP website here Leo’s imagination, full of wonderings; his imaginary friend, Ralph, an alien whose fur changes colour to reflect his mood, together with a […]
Queenie in Seven Moves
Queenie in Seven Moves by Zanni Louise is a beautiful middle grade novel that highlights the unexpected gifts that come from stepping out of your comfort zone, such as the opportunities to grow, realise your full potential, meet new people and embrace new experiences, follows twelve year old Queenie and her Mum, Clare, as they […]
August and Jones
A friendship that knows no bounds, confronting fears head on, living life to the fullest in the face of adversity and two tweens navigating the trials and tribulations of life with courage, grace, resilience and a sense of adventure are some of the moving themes in August and Jones by Pip Harry. This story, inspired […]
Listen
Title: Listen Authors: Duncan Smith and Nicole Godwin Paintings by: Jandamarra Cadd Publisher: Wild Dog Books Publication date: August 2023 RRP: $24.99 Teachers’ Notes: Available on the Wild Dog Books website here From the creators who produced We Are Australians comes Listen, masterfully and powerfully written by Duncan Smith and Nicole Godwin with breathtaking and joyous paintings by […]
Desert Jungle
Desert Jungle by esteemed picture book author and artist, Jeannie Baker, is a stunning celebration of a misunderstood desert landscape, rich in diversity as well as a powerful call to action to connect with and protect desert habitats. This story is set in the Sonoran Desert and in the author’s note, Jeannie mentions that “recent […]
Waiting for the Storks
Waiting for the Storks by master storyteller Katrina Nannestad with Illustrations by Martina Heiduczekis and published by HarperCollins is Katrina’s third historical fiction title which is inspired by an event during World War 2 and sensitively, yet powerfully, explores this from a child’s perspective. This book, recommended for readers 12+ is inspired by real people […]
Books for Harmony Week
Harmony Week celebrates the richness of diversity and all of the different cultures in Australia. Australia is a culturally diverse country and is home to the oldest continuous culture on earth and the most recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics from the 2021 census reports that just over seven million people, 27.6 per cent […]