What plants and animals are in the rainforest, or the desert, or The Great Barrier Reef? Is pavlova Australian? Does Vegemite really taste good? What does ANZAC mean? What does it really feel like to be Australian? These are just some of the questions young children may have about Australia... how will you answer them?
I've always believed in the power of books for explaining big {or new} concepts to children in an age appropriate way, which is why my house is overflowing with them and we use them all the time. If you look hard enough there's a book for anything and these are my favourite books to introduce and explain Australian animals, places, icons, diversity and culture to children.
CHILDREN'S BOOKS ABOUT AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS
Australia has a diverse range of animals from the down right deadly to the quintessential marsupials, like koalas, kangaroos, wombats and wallabies that are synonymous with the land down under. There's also the weird and wonderful like the cassowary, platypus and quokka.
But where exactly will you find all these creatures, and what do they eat? These picture books introduce kids to all the colourful creatures we have roaming the land and sea in Australia.
Australia Under the Sea 1, 2, 3
Frané Lessac
Australia Under the Sea 1, 2, 3 is a fun counting book that explores some of the wonderful and interesting marine life that can be found off the Australian coast. Frané Lessac takes readers on a vibrant journey through Australian waters with vivid illustrations and fun animal facts on each page. Children can learn about different sea creatures, like parrot fish and dugongs, while practicing counting 1-12.
Love from Australia
Ruth Waters
Love from Australia uses collage illustrations and rhyming postcards from different cities and iconic landmarks across Australia to introduce children to the many weird and wonderful creatures that call Australia home.
From crocs in Darwin to kangaroos in Canberra, Love From Australia explores this extraordinary country and introduces children to its most loveable (and frightening!) creatures. What an adventure! One I'll never forget. Watch the book being read aloud here.
A - Z of Australian Animals
Jennifer Cossins
Jennifer Cossins is a Tasmanian artist and writer famous for her stunning non fiction books and beautiful illustrations. A-Z of Australian Animals is an anthology packed full of interesting facts about 26 of Australia's animals, one for each letter of the alphabet. The book features iconic animals such as the kangaroo, koala and Tasmanian devil, but also has abstruse animals like the quokka and numbat.
Jennifer Cossins has a number of other animal books including A-Z of Endangered Animals, 101 Collective Nouns, The Baby Animal Book and The Ultimate Animal Counting Book.
Somewhere in Australia
Marcello Pennacchio
Somewhere in Australia is a beautiful picture book that uses rhyming and descriptive language to count through different Australian animals up to ten. The book is great for young kids to learn counting and one to one correspondence and is also great for acting out the various sounds and movements mentioned on each page. Watch the book being read aloud here.
Wombat Stew
Marcia K Vaughan
Wombat Stew is the story of a clever dingo who caught a wombat and decided to make gooey, brewy, yummy, chewy wombat stew. However, wombat's friends band together to help him by adding all sorts of weird ingredients into Dingo's stew.
Wombat Stew is a colourful celebration of Australian outback animals and the bush tucker they all eat. It's a great way to teach young children about Australian wildlife and also a wonderful story of friendship and comradery. Watch Wombat Stew being read aloud here.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Australian Friends
Eric Carle
The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Australian Friends is a lift the flap board book the explores typical Australian habitats like the beach, rivers, rainforest and the desert. Readers can lift the flaps to discover different Australian animals that live there.
Eric Carle uses fun rhymes and his famous vivid illustrations to bring Australian landscape and animals to life. This book is perfect for toddlers and younger children. Watch the book being read aloud here.
Australia: Country of Colour
Jess Racklyeft
Bestselling creator Jess Racklyeft celebrates Australian animals, plants and landscapes through the lens of the colour wheel. With its vivid red dirt, big blue skies, wild green bushland and golden sandy beaches, Australia is a country of extraordinary colour.
A celebration of the stunning plants and animals of this colourful country, from vibrant pink Flame Peas to startling blue Fairy Wrens, electric yellow Billy Buttons, glossy black Tasmanian Devils, and many more.
AVAILABLE HERE: Amazon AU
PICTURE BOOKS THAT CELEBRATE AUSTRALIAN LANDSCAPE
Here in Australia we're lucky enough to have such a diverse range of landscape that provides shelter for ourselves and our native animals. From the harsh, dry deserts in central Australia to the lush rainforests and coral reefs of North Queensland, each part of Australia creates a unique ecosystem. The following picture books aptly describe and celebrate the varying landscape found across Australia.
An Amazing Australian Road Trip
Jackie Hosking
Aunty is turning 60 so the whole family is packing up and headed on an epic road trip across Australia to find the perfect picnic spot for her birthday. Join them as they travel far and wide around Australia on the Great Ocean Road visiting iconic landscapes and landmarks along the way.
From the 12 Apostles to Coober Pedy, Ningaloo Reef, Uluru and The Great Barrier Reef, An Amazing Australian Road Trip will take you on a journey through every state and territory in Australia. The book uses rhyming text, beautiful illustrations and loads of interesting facts to share the story of Australia's outback, coastal and inner city regions.
Off we go around Australia
Roland Harvey
From the tip of the Top End to way out west, Australia is packed with magical things to see and do. So off we go! Sailing and surfing, caving and kayaking, camping under big skies and exploring underground... Join us for all the madness and mayhem of our fabulous family holidays.
Includes four much-loved travel books in one: At the Beach, To the Top End, All the Way to W.A., and In the Bush. As they turn the pages children can explore the landscape of each destination with the full page illustrations and read all about the adventures Mum, Dad, Penny, Henry and Frankie have been having.
Why I Love Australia
Bronwyn Bancroft
In Why I Love Australia, Bronwyn Bancroft uses vivid pictures and expressive language to convey the beauty and magic of the Australian landscape. Bancroft is a proud Bundjalung woman and has illustrated the book with her modern version of traditional aboriginal paintings.
The book is both an acknowledgement and celebration of Australian's traditional culture as well as an exploration of it's beautiful and varied landscape. Watch the book being read aloud here.
A is for Australia
Frané Lessac
In A in for Australia, author and illustrator Frané Lessac takes readers on a tour across Australia. What is the Fremantle Doctor? Where is Qui Qui? And why are some islands named after days of the week?
Uncover these exciting facts when you explore from Bondi to Kakadu and all the way to Taronga Zoo. Discover why Australia is one of the most amazing countries in the world!
This is Australia {Picture Atlas}
Samone Amba
This is Australia is a beautifully illustrated picture atlas children can flip through with large, simple maps showing each state and territory. The book has 70 fun filled flaps to lift where children can learn more about Australian animals, plants and landmarks unique to different parts of Australia.
PICTURE BOOKS THAT CELEBRATE AUSTRALIAN PEOPLE & CULTURE
Australia is a multicultural country combining descendants from the original aboriginal inhabitants with descendants from the colonisation in 1788 when the first British fleet arrived, as well as many immigrants from all over the world. We have national holidays and events such as Australia Day, Anzac Day and NAIDOC week and are also heavily influenced by other cultures.
Around the world we're known for the BBQ, Hills Hoist clotheslines, thongs {for our feet, not our bums}, Anzac biscuits, Tim Tams, fairy bread and often the most divisive of all, Vegemite. We have iconic structures and places to visit like The Sydney Opera House, Uluru and The Great Barrier Reef and everyone recognises famous Aussies Steve Irwin, Chris Hemsworth and Ned Kelly {even though two of them are no longer with us}. The following picture books do a great job of honouring famous Australians and capturing what it means to be Australian for today's kids.
Amazing Australian Women
Pamela Freeman
Meet twelve amazing Australian women who have changed the world, in small ways and large. Some of them are world famous, some of them are famous in Australia, all of them deserve to be famous and admired. These women are the warriors who paved the way for the artists, business owners, scientists, singers, politicians, actors, sports champions, adventurers, activists and innovators of Australia today.
Amazing Australian Women tells the life stories of Mary Reibey {convict and businesswoman}, Tarenore {Indigenous resistance fighter}, Mary Lee {suffragist}, Nellie Melba {opera singer}, Edith Cowan {politician}, Tilly Aston {teacher, writer and disability activist}, Rose Quong {actress, lecturer and writer}, Elizabeth Kenny {nurse and medical innovator}, Annette Kellerman {swimmer and movie star}, Lores Bonney {aviation pioneer}, Emily Kame Kngwarreye {artist} and Ruby Payne-Scott {scientist}.
This book is great for older children who are confident readers and interested in learning more about historical events and people. Watch author Pamela Freeman reading Amazing Australian Women aloud here.
I'm Australian Too
Mem Fox
In I'm Australian Too, Mem Fox celebrates Australia's diverse and multicultural heritage. She talks about all different parts of Australia and many reasons why families come to make a better life in Australia.
The book is a wonderful age appropriate way to encourage a discussion about immigration and how sometimes people originally come from other countries, but now call Australia home. I'm Australian! How about you? Watch I'm Australian Too being read aloud here.
Australia Illustrated
Tania McCartney
Australia Illustrated uses intricate illustrations to explore iconic places, landmarks, flora, fauna, foods, people and events in each state. Australia Illustrated is like a pictorial encyclopedia and tourist guide of Australia for kids and adults alike. It would also be great to send to relatives overseas who want to learn more about everything Australian. Watch the book trailer here.
An Aussie Year
Tania McCartney
An Aussie Year gives a glimpse into what it's like being Australian, featuring modern day culture and celebrations as well as long standing traditions. The book follows five Australian kids Ned, Lily, Zoe, Kirra and Matilda throughout an entire year and highlights multicultural festivals, national events, foods, celebrations and every day experiences that make up a typical Aussie year.
Swinging on clotheslines, wearing thongs, eating meat pies and icy poles, Tania McCartney has captured the essence of an Aussie childhood, while also paying homage to important cultural events like NAIDOC week and Anzac Day.
We are Australians
Duncan Smith & Nicole Godwin
What does it mean to be an Australian citizen?
Co-authored by Nicole Godwin and Wiradjuri man, Duncan Smith OAM, We are Australians reflects on our rich First Nations history and encourages readers to walk forward together, stamping our feet to wake up the ancestors and listen deeply to stories. To points of view. To Country. To work together creating a great Australia being mindful of, respecting and carrying on the stories from a culture that has survived for thousands of years.
The book features stunning illustrations by Jandamarra Cadd, a Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Warung descendent, including traditional aboriginal dot paintings and contemporary portraits.
Disclosure - This post contains some affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you, should you make a purchase.
