Top 15 Picture Books of 2023
The following books are some of my favourite picture book reads of 2023. Please click on the titles below that are hyperlinked to see my review which I shared on the Reading Opens Doors blog (some titles I still have to write a review for and will update this post to ensure all books included […]
Some Favourite Read Aloud Picture Books for Early Primary Years
Picture Books by First Nations Authors and Illustrators – Collection 2
To view the first collection of eighteen books by First Nations authors and illustrators please visit here. Bobtail’s Friend: From the Desert to the Sea is the second book in the Spirit of the Dreaming series written by Rhonda Collard-Spratt, Yamatji-Noongar artist, storyteller, poet and Stolen Generations survivor and Jacki Ferro with illustrations by Rhonda-Collard-Spratt […]
Books for Anzac Day – Part 2
Books for Anzac Day (first blog post containing seventeen books can be found on the Reading Opens Doors blog here). One way for children to learn about Anzac day, in a way that is accessible for them is through books that sensitively tell stories about the men and women who served – stories about their […]
Books, Digital Stories and Videos for The Anniversary of The National Apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
On February 13, 2008 the former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a formal apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly to the Stolen Generations. The following resources are useful for embedding an Aboriginal perspective with children about this apology. Sorry Day by Coral Vass and illustrated by Dub Leffler is an important story […]
Books to Explore at the Beginning of the School Year and Revisit Regularly
The following collection of books either promote a growth mindset, celebrate difference and inclusivity, or are a source of inspiration for creating a class inquiry task. These books serve to open up conversations about values, goals, expectations and what the classroom could look, feel and sound like. This list is by no means exhaustive and […]
Books by First Nations Authors and Illustrators for Primary School Children
Day Break by Amy McQuire, a Darumbal and South Sea Islander woman from Rockhampton in Central Queensland and illustrated by Matt Chun is a picture book that challenges the narrative around Australia Day and highlights Indigenous survival, resistance and resilience. This powerful and confronting story shares information about Australia’s true history as a family make […]
Walk of the Whales
Walk of the Whales by esteemed book creator Nick Bland will inspire children to think about pollution in the ocean in a new and unexpected way and from the perspective of the whales. This highly entertaining and creative book tells the story about the whale population who took it upon themselves to suddenly leave their […]