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Dreaming: Welcome to Our Country

Sep21
Dreaming: Welcome to Our Country

Dreaming: Welcome to Our Country

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dreaming: Welcome to Our Country

Adam Goodes & Ellie Laing

David Hardy

A & U Children, 2025

24pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781761065095

Adam Goodes has come a long way since his retirement from AFL, 10 years ago this month and so has the literature about our First Nations peoples that we, and particularly our young people, have access to.  What was once pretty much limited to “Tales from the Dreamtime” without acknowledgement of the vast diversity of distinct nations, language groups, and communities with each having their own unique culture, beliefs, and relationship to specific ancestral lands,  the stories were seen as being universal and applicable to all. Yet, in reality the overarching commonality is connection to Country, whatever that looks like for each community. 

Here, in this latest and final addition to this series  which began with  Somebody’s Land in 2021 and now includes Ceremony (2022) , Back on Country, (2022) and Walk with Us (2023) that has opened the eyes and minds of children and adults alike, the authors attempt to help young readers better understand the concept of Dreaming.

We acknowledge that the Dreaming means different things to different people…and that Dreaming is not a traditional word used by Aboriginal people. However it is the word commonly used to try to explain the interconnectedness, complexity and richness of the Creation stories and spirituality of Aboriginal culture. 

Goodes draws on his own Adnyamathanha and Narungga heritage to explain his Muda – the never-ending cycle that links the past, present and future of his People. Through lyrical text and the magical illustration that show a young child leaving their bed and flying through the window, young children begin to understand that Muda is not a specific time or place but something that transcends them, with the stories and lore and rules reaching as far back in time as they will reach in the future. But as well as offering that visual image, Hardy’s interpretation of the legendary Rainbow Serpent (Akurra) and clever juxtaposition of colour to depict the Law men coming down from the sky to teach about Country are memorable.

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

With both the national curriculum and the new NSW HSIE syllabus having a strong focus on the the connections people make to their past and First Nations People in particular, this book -indeed, the entire series- is an essential part of the school library collection to not only engage and connect with young readers but also to help teachers sharing the curriculum so that everyone can appreciate and value that our First Nations culture is so much more than stories about why the crow is black or how the kangaroo got its tail.  Hooray!   At last!   . 

I Am Me

Sep18
I Am Me

I Am Me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Am Me

Mitch Tambo

Carla Hoffenberg

A & U Children, 2025

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781761182204

Yaama!
My name is Mitch Tambo.
I’m a proud First Nations man from the Gamilaraay people.
What’s your name? Who are your people?

One of Australia’s most unique and electrifying First Nations entertainers, Mitch Tambo welcomes children of all ages to discover the richness of First Nations culture through song, dance and Language, sharing the ways of his Gamilaraay people in particular.  Using his headdress as the focal point, he explains its construction and the symbolism associated with it, its components and its connections to his wider world. But at the same time he offers young readers a challenge to discover their own heritage, their language and the things that keep their culture connected whether it is First Nation or something else, because it is all those connections that combine to make them the unique individuals they are.   even those children who don’t think they have strong cultural or ethnic bonds can start by exploring their own name – why they have it, who chose it, what it means, its links to other family members and so on.

So while Mitch continues the trend to introduce First Nations culture to non-Indigenous people, and their strong sense of  personal identity built on generations of shared beliefs, links, and bonds, I believe that, given its title and his questions to the reader.  the core of this book is about acknowledging all the bibs and bobs over time, place and space that enable each of us to say “I Am Me.”  That if we are to be able to be resilient and hold self-believe and self worth then we need to know who we are and develop that strong sense of self from the get-go. This is an excellent starting point,

 

Childish

Sep4
Childish

Childish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Childish

Morris Gleitzman

Penguin, 2025

176pp., pbk., RRP $A16.99

9781761343759

When his new friend Dot breaks her leg when she is chased by Year 9 bullies and crashes her bike into one of the many potholes that litter the road, Arkie decides to do something about the dangers these lurking dangers pose – particularly when he discovers that they are both preventable and fixable if only the city authorities would talk to each other…

With idealism and focused purpose that is typical of eleven-year-olds but not the street-smarts of city kids because he has only lived there with his Nan for two weeks, Arkie sets out to find who is responsible for ensuring that AAICs (Access and Inspection Covers, formerly known as manhole covers) are flush with the road’s surface so they are not the hazards they currently pose. And regardless of the human roadblocks they meet in the kingdom of bureaucracy and red-tape, and becoming the targets of trolls online, both Arkie and Dot press on even though the threat of Arkie having to return to the country because his parents’ farm hasn’t sold looms larger and time becomes important.

While both Arkie and Dot are relatable characters in a relatable situation – they see a problem and want it fixed NOW, and, despite their determination being seen as “childish” by some of the adults they encounter, they have the tunnel vision and tenacity of children without the outside distractions that adults have to continue their campaign to its conclusion, albeit an unexpected one – this is more than just an engaging read for younger independent readers because it opens the door to Gleitzman’s remarkable body of work For forty years, Morris Gleitzman has been enchanting readers with his stories that focus on big issues seen through a child’s lens including the iconic Two Weeks with the Queen , his series about Felix and Zelda, Jewish children in Nazi Germany as well as Boy Overboard and Girl Underground written at a time when families risked so much to escape to Australia and he has lost none of his touch in being able to treat serious subjects with acerbic humour that engages the reader from the get-go because his characters are so real that we want to know what happened in the end – even Limpy the cane toad who is my personal favourite with his own series.  (All of his books are shown on his website, and a tap/click on the cover offers lots of information about how they came to be.)  

Gleitzman has gifted generations of children with stories of hope and courage, determination and resilience in a way that only a master storyteller who knows what kids are like and what they want to read, spotlighting issues that they face and exploring them with well-drawn characters who grow, change and mature as the story unfolds, can,  and IMO, it is our responsibility as librarians to ensure the gift keeps giving.  After all, what more can we do when he writes, “She is friendly and helpful and brave about protecting books so she must be a librarian.”  (Childish, p55)

 

Rakali of the Riverbank

Jul12
Rakali of the Riverbank

Rakali of the Riverbank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rakali of the Riverbank

Stephanie Owen Reeder

Rachel Gregg

CSIRO Publishing, 2025

32pp., hbk., RRP $A26.99

9781486317547

If you have ever been by the riverbank or beside a lake at dusk almost anywhere in Australia, you may have heard a soft plop and a trail of ripples as a rakali (hydromys chrysogaster) slides into the water to begin its nightly quest for food. Also known as the golden-bellied water mouse, the native water rat, or a number of other terms from the various indigenous languages, the rakali (from the Ngarrindjeri people of the Murray River area of South Australia), is one of only two amphibious mammals in Australia, the other being the platypus, and in this beautifully illustrated new release, readers are taken along on its eventful nightly journey searching for food, protecting its territory and trying to keep itself out of harm’s way.

Despite being mistakenly likened to the disease-carrying black rats by early European settlers, the rakali is more like the otter in personality and behaviour, and the black rat is actually an enemy along with feral animals like foxes and cane toads – although it is actually one of only a few of Australia’s native creatures to have worked out a way to kill these toxic creatures.

Yet, despite being a ruthless killer and protector of its territory, sending even those of its own kind on their way, both author and illustrator have managed to portray this creature is an almost-endearing way as it goes about its quest for survival as Mother Nature intended. Using beautifully descriptive text that could be used as a model for students assigned to writing the ubiquitous “animal report” – “Moon shadows dance and a cool breeze ruffles his soggy fur” evokes such a better image than “he is wet and cold” – and adding onomatopoeic words that add to the drama and atmosphere,  Reeder introduces young naturalists to yet another of the lesser-known indigenous species found in and around the continent, including nearly 400 different types of mammals. Factual notes are included in the backmatter and there are also teachers’ notes that can be used for a more in-depth investigation. 

As usual this is another quality publication from both Reeder and CSIRO Publishing that gives young readers a sneak peek into the habits and habitats of some of our not-so-well-known creatures that could inspire greater appreciation and exploration. 

Filling in the Map: Exploring Inland Australia

Jun27
Filling in the Map

Filling in the Map: Exploring Inland Australia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filling in the Map: Exploring Inland Australia

Carole Wilkinson

Wild Dog Books, 2025

48pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781742036557

When the First Fleet arrived in Australia in 1788 Australia’s First Nations people had already lived on the continent for at least 60,000 years.

Matthew Flinders drew an accurate map of Australia’s coastline, but none existed of inland Australia. Aboriginal people knew their Country in detail without the need for maps. They had a network of tracks across the continent and detailed knowledge of food and water sources. But for the
European settlers Australia was a 7.7 million km2 mystery to solve.

This is how they set about Filling in the Map of Australia.

Using images of people, places and maps sourced through a range of official libraries, archives and museums, younger readers are taken on an historical journey of how this country was explored by Europeans after Captain Arthur Phillip established the first permanent settlement in 1788 in what Captain James Cook had named Port Jackson but which Phillip renamed Sydney.  While acknowledging that the Aboriginal people had been here for thousands of years prior to Phillip’s settlement and knew the country intimately with established tracks called Songlines and which the Europeans used, often without consent, this book focuses on those early European explorers beginning with Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson penetrating the seemingly impenetrable Blue Mountains in 1813 and includes the travels of Hume and Hovell, Charles Sturt, Thomas Mitchell, Edward John Eyre, Leichardt, Burke and Wills, John McDouall Stuart, and Albert Canning offering straightforward factual information of each expedition. 

While it provides an overview of the opening up of the continent for future European settlement for the casual reader. teachers’ notes linked directly to the Australian Curriculum History strand, particularly those in Years 3-5, offer ideas that will make it come alive for those students, particularly connecting the past to the present. 

It is the ideal companion to its predecessor, Putting Australia on the Map (Wild Dog, 2020) offering not only a peek into the past of this country but also the opportunity to consider how countries were explored and mapped before satellites, drones and other devices and how we actually found our way before Google Maps, satnav and GPS.  (It’s only 20 years since my students sat watching our school janitor demonstrate how he found his way on his 4WD expeditions using a handheld GPS device, being fascinated by it and wanting to have a go to pinpoint the school as we asked “Where is Palmerston? as a special assignment for the school website!) 

And for those who prefer non fiction, it is the ideal book for this year’s CBCA Book week theme, “Book an Adventure”.  What if you were a journalist reporting on one of the expeditions as you accompanied it, particularly if you could timeslip while taking today’s technology with you?

The Girl and the Ghost

May16
The Girl and the Ghost

The Girl and the Ghost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Girl and the Ghost

Jacqueline Harvey

Penguin, 2025

352pp., pbk., RRP $A16.99

9781761349409

Josephine Eloise Thomas (aka Jet) has moved  from metro Sydney to rural France with her dad Matt, stepmum Ellie, brother Teddy and golden retriever, Daisy to renovate an old chateau they have bought to turn into a guesthouse. They have chosen the location deliberately because Jet’s mum was born and raised there, but she died when Jet was very young and little is known about her childhood.  But what sounds like it could be another episode of Escape to the Chateau takes an interesting turn when Jet finds an old locket hidden in an armoire (wardrobe) in her room, and even more intriguing when she opens it and a ghost emerges. And it’s not any old past resident of the chateau but  one who claims to be Louis XVII. younger son of King Louis XVI of France and Queen Marie Antoinette and heir to the French throne. 

It seems that only Jet and Daisy can see and hear him, and if she closes the locket he is locked away again, which she does often until they start to build a “friendship” but that’s when the mystery begins… Is it about Louis’ life because history says he died in 1795 at the age of 10 at the Cafe La Tour du Temple in Paris yet the ghost claims to be 14 and was smuggled out of the capital and looked after in a nearby chateau until he got sick and died from a broken heart?  Is it about the mysterious childhood of Jet’s mother where there are questions and clues, but no answers? Or is it about the strange events happening in the seemingly abandoned Chateau du Lac which adjoins their chateau and which Jet and Louis witness when they go exploring?  What has this painting by Rembrandt got to do with what is going on?

Rembrandt’s “Storm on the Sea of Galilee.”

Rembrandt’s “Storm on the Sea of Galilee.”

Once again, Jacqui Harvey has written a story that is going to engage independent readers who enjoy a good mystery with relatable characters but not too many twists and turns in the plot. While they might not relate to moving to France, they can get a glimpse of life through Jet’s narrative as well as her emails and Facetime conversations with her best friend Harriet, who, herself, has had to upsticks and move with her family to Singapore, as well as the notes Jet makes in her diary as she is determined to become an author when she is older, particularly one who writes mysteries spurred on by her reading of the  Kensy and Max, Alice-Miranda and Friday Barnes    series, mirroring Jacquie Harvey’s own ambitions.

Because this story takes place in the school holidays before Jet starts her new school where her previous detective work has uncovered it is the school her mother attended, the introduction of potential boyfriend Gabriel as well as Harriet’s impending visit in September, and the links and leads that suggest there is more to not only her mother’s story but also Louis’, it’s clear that this is the first in yet another series by this popular author – and, indeed, it is. 

When they were Jet’s age, my granddaughters devoured Alice-Miranda and then Kensy and Max , and I particularly enjoyed this one, so it’s definitely one to introduce to your readers who like a bit of historical fiction mingled with a good mystery, likeable characters and an enchanting setting, especially as the genesis of the book is explained in the back matter, perhaps inspiring aspiring young writers themselves  Stories can come from anywhere!  

Koala Koala

Apr27
Koala Koala

Koala Koala

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Koala Koala

John Williamson

Jonathan Bentley

Puffin, 2025

24pp., hbk., RRP $A19.99

9781761344244

Ask any little person (or international visitor) to name an iconic Australian creature and it’s highly likely they will say “koala”.  Yet there are fears that this favourite will be extinct in NSW by 2050, the greatest threat being loss of habitat because of  urban development, agriculture, mining and the expansion of existing infrastructure. Already, those in Queensland, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory have been  classified as an endangered species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) since February, 2022.

So this picture book version of John Williamson’s 1990 song of the same name, is a provocative reminder that even though we have recognised the predicament of these favourites for decades, there is still much to be done.

With the original lyrics slightly modified and enriched by poignant, evocative illustrations by Jonathan Bentley , little ones are introduced to needs of koalas and the key dangers koalas face – deforestation, traffic, bushfires and dogs – helping them to understand that if they want to be able to show their children this treasured marsupial, the time to act is now. While they might not have the power to stop urban sprawl, they can be aware of the work of Koala Conservation Australia   (of which, Williamson is a special ambassador) and perhaps hold a fundraiser to support their work in building a new breeding facility, education the public generally, or even visiting the centre.

Even just learning about the koala’s habitats and habits can be a start, and such a study was my go-to intro to developing information literacy skills with kindergarten.  Use the book itself as well as lots of different pictures of koalas so there is at least one between two, and ask pairs, “What can we learn about koalas just by looking at these pictures?”. Record the responses,  and then classify what has been discovered into three columns… What do we know for sure? What do we need to check?  What more do we want/need to find out?  Not only does that give a structure to the class investigation but it also gives them the foundation for their own personal investigations into other native species.

On the other hand, more mature readers could use it as a starting point to investigate how songs and music have been used over time to build awareness of human rights, environmental and other issues to reach a wider audience, particularly the anti-war protest movement of the 1960s, although there have been many before and since. 

An essential addition to any collection to support the environment and sustainability curriculum. 

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

 

Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles

Feb4
Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles

Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles

Corey Tutt

Ben Williams

A & U Children, 2025

140pp., hbk., RRP $A32.99

9781761181030

There is an old adage that says, “Never judge a book by its cover” and it certainly applies to this one for, at first glance, it would appear to be yet another one about the deadly and dangerous reptiles that inhabit the planet. 

But if you look more closely you will see the words, “from the author of The First Scientists” and you realise that the word “deadly” is used in its Aboriginal context of meaning ‘excellent’, ‘fabulous’ or ‘awesome’ and so, instead of having just another addition to your 597.9 collection, you have something new and unique.  For this is an examination of the reptiles that inhabit Australia, arranged by the Country on which they are found while celebrating their original indigenous names so that the links back to thousands of years of knowledge are strengthened.

Beginning with an intro from the author about the why, what and how of the book (which has been a childhood dream), it continues with general information about turtles, lizards, crocodiles and snakes especially their importance to the ecosystems and the threats they face as well as how the individual can help, and then, using the AIATSIS map of Indigenous Australia as a guide, the various reptiles of 20 of the First Nations are featured individually.  Each Country is itself given a brief introduction including a map of its location within the continent and the predominant language.

Accessible text and colourful illustrations offer an insight into favourite feeds, breeding and babies, conservation, predators and prey, and most importantly, what makes that reptile deadly (in a good way) as well as  descriptions of the landscapes where each can be found, and threaded through it all is the author’s passion for the topic. 

This is so much more than an information book about the reptiles of Australia, and, IMO, is an essential addition to the library’s collection for many more reasons than its factual content. 

Meerkat Mayhem

Nov11
Meerkat Mayhem

Meerkat Mayhem

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meerkat Mayhem

Mem Fox

Judy Horacek

Puffin, 2024

32p., hbk., RRP $A19.99

 9780143777687

Meerkat loves his food, snacking whenever he finds something he fancies. Until the day he decides to go for a walk and finds himself stuck tight at the entrance to his burrow!!   No problem, though. Surely strong Elephant will be able to pull him out. No? Well, how about the combined strength of Elephant and Giraffe? 

The team that gave our young readers classics like Where is the Green Sheep?  have once again combined to bring them another superb story that will engage and enchant.  Reminiscent of the traditional tale of The Enormous Turnip, they will enjoy predicting which creature will come to help next,  as they follow the patterns of it being one from Africa and one that is smaller than its predecessor, and no matter how often they hear it, the ending will delight.  Using cardboard necklaces depicting each character, my Kindy kids adored acting out the original story as we turned it into a Readers’ Theatre, each clamouring for a role as we just enjoyed the fun of a seemingly simple story, and I predict this will have a similar appeal.  

Mem Fox is THE  master of stories for little ones IMO, and I have attended so many of her presentations and just been mesmerised at her knowledge and understanding of what it is that little children love and need in their books, and, once, again, she has excelled. She is the one who has been saying for decades that if we read our children three stories a night – a first-read, a familiar and a favourite – to our children from birth, not only will they have heard over 1000 stories by the time they get to school and have all the nuances of our language in their DNA, but that such a strategy would solve the illiteracy problem. 

Ms Now-20 is introduced to Possum Magic on her first night home from the hospital.

Ms Now-20 is introduced to Possum Magic on her first night home from the hospital.

 

At the same time as Mem’s carefully chosen words flow across the pages, Judy Horacek’s illustrations carry the narrative along perfectly, so even if you’re not quite able to read the words yet, you can still tell yourself the story and engage in all those pre-reading behaviours that are the foundations of being a ‘real’ reader.  (If you want evidence, look at the photos in my review of Green Sheep. That 2 year-old now reads anything and everything she can find.)

If you or someone you know has just had a little one, then this is a must-have on their bottom shelf so they can reach for it whenever they want it.  

 

For the story behind the story, read this ABC article.

The Boab Tree

Nov6
The Boab Tree

The Boab Tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Boab Tree

Helen Milroy

Fremantle Press, 2024

40pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781760994631

In the desert-like lands of northern Australia stands a huge family of boab trees, witnesses to the scaping and shaping of the land as generations survived and thrived in conditions ideal for them and those that followed as their flowers bloomed, the nuts formed, fell to the ground and a new generation began.  But at the precise moment one little nut fell, an eagle flew beneath it and instead of landing on the ground, it became wedged in the bird’s feathers and carried for hours before it finally rolled off over a forest of very different trees, taller than it had ever seen.

Tumbling through the branches it finally landed in a soft pile of leaves covering the earth, but even though it was safe, nothing was familiar,  There were birds but they looked different and sang a different language, the trees around looked down in disdain, and Boab felt lost and alone.  How was it to survive in this alien place so different from all that was familiar and without the support of those who knew its story and all that it needed to become a grown-up as Nature intended?

Written by the Western Australia 2021 Australian of the Year and descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara Region, this is a story of many layers that is more than a tale about the boab nut and its eventual return home because of the friendships it forms with the hopping mice and their growing interdependence.  Not only does it echo Aesop’s fable of The Lion and the Mouse   and all that can be learned from that, but Boab’s feelings will also resonate with anyone who has been uprooted and finds themselves trying to find their way in a new and unfamiliar place. Most significantly though, is the dedication to “all our Stolen Children” that will take this to a new audience of older readers who are learning about that period in Australia’s history and who, through the personification on Boab, can begin to understand the loss and bewilderment that the children felt and how, deep in their DNA, they knew their real home was elsewhere and there was a need to return. 

While the comprehensive teachers’ notes examine vocabulary, science and the mice’s message that ‘We are all important’, for me it is that clarification of connection to Country that so many non-Indigenous people find hard to comprehend and which is such a prominent part of school life now, that is important.  Using the displacement of the boab nut and its inherent and intrinsic instinct to survive as an allegory, puts those feelings into a context that can be more readily understood. The power of that connection underpinning and driving the resilience and determination to return to their roots, to that which has sustained endless generations over thousands of years, now has an almost tangible setting that they can relate to, acknowledge and appreciate.

With strong, vibrant illustrations this is one that needs to be promoted, particularly to those for whom this period of history is in their curriculum and even moreso, to those who still believe that picture books are for the very young who are not yet independent readers.