Ten Blocks to the Big Wok
Title: Ten Blocks to the Big Wok Author and Illustrator: Ying-Hwa Hu Publisher: University of Queensland Press – UQP Publication date: 28 February 2023 Themes: Counting, Chinese culture, Mandarin, visual literacy, slowing down and family bonds. Additional notable information: Teachers’ notes can be downloaded from the UQP website here. In the joyful picture book, Ten Blocks to the […]
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 […]
Little People Big Emotions
Title: Little People Big Emotions Author: Kylie Mort Illustrator: Tiina Morton Publisher: Serenity Press Publication date: October 2022 Additional notable information: Parent and teacher notes are included at the back of the book in addition to a QR code to scan to access a study guide Teaching notes including discussion questions as well as English, Drama and […]
What Feelings Do When No One’s Looking
What Feelings Do When No One’s Looking by Tina Oziewicz and Aleksandra Zając is a glorious picture book that deeply contemplates 31 feelings in the most evocative and mesmerising way. In this book the feelings vividly come to life through endearing, furry, round, plump creatures that are depicted with the most expressive facial expressions and […]
Finding You
Finding You, masterfully written by Robert Vescio and exquisitely illustrated by Hannah Sommerville is a heartfelt, tender story about new beginnings and how these often involve courage and being open to possibilities. It’s a story about the beauty in the unexpected, the journey of friendship, unbreakable bonds that form between people and pets as well […]
Books about Refugees – Collection 2
To see collection 1 containing books and digital stories about refugees click here. 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, […]
Old Fellow
Old Fellow by Christopher Cheng and illustrated by Liz Anelli is a glorious, heart-warming tale that reflects on and celebrates companionship, the power of community, connection and the positive and affirming role parks play in a local area. This tender story deftly explores the unconditional bond a man and dog share. Together they traverse their […]
We Run Tomorrow
We Run Tomorrow by Nat Amoore with art by Mike Barry and published by Puffin Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House Australia is brimming with adventure and suspense as well as a (mostly) likeable cast of diverse characters. These are the types of characters you can’t help but cheer on; celebrate their wins with […]
A Feather on a Wing
Title: A Feather on a Wing Author and Illustrator: Maria Speyer Publisher: University of Queensland Press – UQP Publication date: 31 May 2022 Themes: Belonging, comfort, adventure, lullabies, bedtime stories Additional notable information: Teachers’ Notes can be downloaded from the UQP website here. A Feather on a Wing choral arrangement can be found here. You can listen to A […]
Miss Understood
Miss Understood by Kathryn Apel and illustrated by Beau Wylie is a fractured fairy tale and is a brilliant book to use when exploring perspective to consider a traditional fairy tale (in this case ‘The Three Little Pigs’) from a different point of view. Miss Understood is told from the wolf’s perspective and is a […]