Best Books- Indigenous art, culture and storytelling
Australian aborigines are holders of the oldest living culture in the world! That history deserves to be protected and celebrated. Learning about Aboriginal cultures allow children to deepen their knowledge of the history of Australia and to develop an understanding of cultural difference and respect for diversity. For the youngest people in our families, these important themes can be introduced in an age appropriate way, through children’s books depicting indigenous art, culture and story telling. Below i have compiled a list of some of our favourite stories from Indigenous authors and illustrators. I hope you enjoy these titles as much as we do!
As always, click the pictures to take you to where to buy.
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An Australian abc of Animals
You may recognise this from early stories of Maisie learning her alphabet. We loved using this book to teach her. The illustrations are simply beautiful! ABC of Australian Animals was Inspired author and illustrator Bronwyn Bancroft’s deep love of country and depicts an Australian animal for every letter of the alphabet.
An Australian 1,2,3, of Animals
An Australian 1, 2, 3 of Animals is the stunning companion to ABC of Australian Animals. It includes more breathtaking Aboriginal artworks which help children learn to count.
Kick With My Left Foot
A cheerful, energetic story about a young boy playing Australia's favourite game.
I pull the sock on my left foot.
I pull the sock on my right foot.
I lace up the boot on my left foot.
I lace up the boot on my right foot.
This simple story tells the tale of a little boy who loves footy. Both by children love this book and it’s a delight to read. The illustrations paint a beautiful picture!
How the Birds got their Colours
This book is based on a story told by Mary Albert, of the Bardi people, to Aboriginal children living in Broome, Western Australia. The illustrations are adapted from their paintings of the story.
How the Kangaroos got their Tails
This book is based on a story told by George Mung Mung Lirrmiyarri, of the Kija people, to Aboriginal people living in Warmun (Turkey Creek), Western Australia. The illustrations are adapted from their original paintings of the story.
The Bat and the Crocodile
This story comes from the Aboriginal people at Warmun (Turkey Creek) in Western Australia. It was told in the Kija language by Jacko Dolumyu and then in English by Hector Jandany. The illustrations are adapted from paintings of the story done by the children living at Warmun.
When the Snake bites the Sun
This book is based on a story told by David Mowaljarlai of the Ngarinyin people to Aboriginal children living in the Kimberly, Western Australia. The illustrations are adapted from their paintings of the story.
The Rainbow Serpent
A timeless classic from the Dreamtime. there are innumerable names and stories associated with the Rainbow Serpent, all of which communicate the significance of this being within Aboriginal traditions.
Mad Magpie
Inspired by wise sayings and the knowledge of his Elders, Mad Magpie tells the story of Guluu, an angry magpie who is being teased by a gang of butcher birds. The more he is teased, the angrier he becomes. When Guluu seeks advice, his Elders tell him to stay calm like the river, ignore the butcher birds and to be strong on the inside. Guluu tries this, but the cheeky birds just laugh at him. One day, when Guluu is at the river looking for worms, the butcher birds arrive and steal his food. He remembers the words of his Elders and he tries again – and this time Guluu has a different outcome. He stands proudly at the riverbank and remembers how he used to sing when he was having a bad day. Guluu sings so loud he cannot hear the birds laughing at him and they eventually give up and fly away. From that time on, the animals learnt to use music to create a happy mood and they worked together to stop bullying.
Kookoo Kookaburra
With a theme like ‘Kindness is like a boomerang ― if you throw it often, it comes back often’, It is no wonder that this beautiful book won the 2016 Australian Book Industry Awards for Readers Choice, was shortlisted for the ABIA book of the year as well as for the Speech Pathology Australia book of the year!
Kookoo the Kookaburra is the second heartwarming morality tale - set within the cultural context of the Dreamtime ― by Queensland teacher Gregg Dreise. In the same vein as his first book Silly Birds (Magabala Books 2014) Dreise tells the story of Kookoo, a kind and well-loved kookaburra who is famous for entertaining the other bush creatures with his funny stories. Everyone knows Kookoo has a special gift because he can tell funny stories about the other animals without hurting their feelings. However, when Kookoo runs out of kind stories he turns to teasing and making fun of his friends' differences. Refusing to listen to the sage advice of his uncle, Kookoo gradually alienates all his friends until he finds himself alone and ignored by the other animals. When he finally listens to the sounds of his own laughter echoing around the bush and realises it has become an unhappy sound, Kookoo is forced to remember his uncle's words and change his ways ― kindness is like a boomerang ― if you throw it often, it comes back often.
Awesome Emu
A charming morality tale that reminds us to be humble about our successes.
Way back, before once-upon-a-time time, there was the Dreamtime, and during this period lived a very confident emu called Dinewah. He was tall, fast and colourful. Most animals thought he was a show-off, but he was too busy talking about himself to take any notice…
Dinewah was determined to run and fly the furthest and the fastest. He even tried to fly to the Sun, but he never made it.
Today, he is still up there in Father Sky. If you look carefully on dark nights, when the Moon isn’t very bright, you can see the Awesome Emu. Many people know him as the Milky Way. We still know it as Djiraboo Dinewah ― Awesome Emu.
Make it stand out
Winner of the Speech Pathology Australia Indigenous Book of the Year Award for 2015. In this humble, charming and humorous morality tale, Maliyan is a proud eagle who always looks, listens and sees things from a long way away. One day he meets the turkey Wagun, who is a silly bird, and together these two new friends begin to do silly-bird things. The Elders and Maliyan's parents become very disappointed and soon the local billabong becomes a mess. The silly birds do not care for anyone and seem to have eaten all the food. Maliyan begins to see the error of his ways and tries to talk to Wagun and the other birds about their actions. No one listens. So Maliyan flies away and begins the journey of listening again. Maliyan soon becomes a proud leader and all the silly birds begin to follow his example. They all help clean up the messes they have made. All except one … In this quintessential Australian fable, Silly Birds combines richly textured and striking illustrations of Australian animals with the gentle humour of an Aussie truism that it is hard to soar like an eagle when you are, in fact, surrounded by turkeys.
Cunning Crow
Remember ― beauty comes from within...
Way back, before once-upon-a-time, there was the Dreamtime when all the birds were white. One of those white birds was a crow called Waan.
One day a big storm came through and a magnificent rainbow appeared. When the birds passed through the rainbow, one by one, their feathers took on its beautiful colours.
Waan flew through the rainbow too and his feathers became a beautiful red and orange. But Waan was jealous of the other birds. He wanted to be more beautifully coloured than anyone. So Waan hatched a cunning plan.
But things did not go the way Waan wanted…
Make it stand out
This engaging story tells how the possum got its scaly-tail and the echidna got its spikes. Passed down from generation to generation, this is a traditional Dreamtime story. Scaly-tailed Possum and Echidna features two iconic Australian animals; the scaly-tailed possum, found only in a remote part of the Kimberley, and one of Australia's most unusual mammals, the echidna. Vividly illustrated with paintings on silk, this Dreamtime story includes detailed descriptions and photographs of the scaly-tailed possum and the echidna. It also tells of the Wandjina, the Creator and Great Spirit, an important part of Aboriginal dreamtime stories from the Kimberley.
How Frogmouth Found Her Home
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can makeFrogmouth isn't like the other birds. She doesn't want to live in the trees. Frogmouth is in search of something more.
Frogmouth travels the land hunting for a new nesting place, but nothing feels right. On her way, she helps other animals find their true homes, but still she searches. Only when she meets Moon and hears his intriguing offer can she finally find her true home.
Ernie Dances to the Didgeridoo
When Ernie goes to live in an Aboriginal community in northern Australia, the people, climate, plants and animals are all new to him. Here are his letters to his friends, describing the life he discovers with his new friends in their wild and beautiful land.
In the City I See
A gentle snapshot of how our Indigenous culture is reflected in our cities. It will become a valuable and loved addition to family book collections and libraries in rural, regional and urban areas.
Big Rain Coming
A lyrical story about waiting for the rain to come to an isolated Aboriginal community. Tension in the community builds as the rain clouds thicken and grow dark. Everybody waits. When will the rain come?
On the way to Nana’s
Frances and Lindsay Haji-Ali take us counting backwards from FIFTEEN to ONE on this spectactular journey in the far north of WA. When Frances and Lindsay lived with their family in Broome, they often set out to visit Nana in the tiny outback town of Wyndham over 1,000km north. These road trips took them across the magnificent Kimberley landscape and inspired this counting story.
Respect
A tender, thoughtful story reminding us to respect others and respect ourselves. A beautiful story which welcomes children to culture.
Caterpillar and Butterfly
There was once a caterpillar who lived all alone. Everything around Caterpillar seemed large and strange, and she was full of fear. Determined to escape any possible danger, Caterpillar hides away in the safety of her chrysalis. There, she finally discovers the inner strength she needs to truly live. Her fears discarded, she emerges triumphantly as Butterfly to enjoy all the wonders of the world.
My Country
A gorgeous new picture book in simple, lyrical prose and vibrant colour.
Best-selling author and internationally renowned painter Sally Morgan teamed up with Ezekiel Kwaymullina to create this picture book celebrating country.
Bush Bash
Dingo is headed somewhere looking excited, and the other animals want to know where he's going. Dingo won’t say, so the others follow along in hot pursuit – two nosy numbats, three flying frogs, four burrowing bilbies … The animals are in for a surprise when Dingo’s final destination is revealed on the last page. As well as being a counting book, this is a seek-and-find story. There is one aboriginal artefact plus one non-native animal on each colourful spread.
I Love Me
A celebration of individuality and joyous selfesteem, in bouncy, rhythmic prose and riotous colour.
Sam's Bush Journey
Sam doesn't like the outdoors and would be happy if it all disappeared. But when he goes to stay with his grandmother he learns that the outdoors has an abundance of things to offer. Sam's Bush Journey is brimming with themes that will promote discussion amongst young readers: journeys, the environment, storytelling, aboriginal knowledge of the bush and intergenerational wisdom.
Splosh for the Billabong
A lyrical book which revels in all things swirly and squelchy, and explores northern Australian animals and landscapes as well as Indigenous art.
There are a few books in this series, so if your little one enjoys this one check them out.
Two Mates
A true story of the special mateship between two young boys who have grown up together in the coastal town of Broome in Australia's north-west. Jack is Indigenous and Raf is a non- Indigenous boy who has spina bifida. Jack and Raf take the reader on a journey of their daily life growing up in Broome. Together they search for hermit crabs, go hunting for barni, fish for salmon, explore the markets, eat satays and dress up as superheros. The fact that Raf is in a wheelchair is only revealed at the end of the story.
Crabbing with Dad
Children will love reading about the adventures of two small children as they go out in the boat with Dad to set crab pots in their secret spot.
Sunscreen and life jackets on, they zoom off into the creek, passing other boats and people fishing along the way.
Tom Tom
An honour book and shortlisted title in the CBC Early Childhood book of the Year Awards 2009.
Tom Tom is an engaging contemporary story that traces a day in the life of a small boy living in a typical Aboriginal community in the Top End of the Northern Territory. It follows the adventures of Tom Tom as he goes to preschool, eats lunch with Granny Annie in the bottom camp, swims in the Lemonade Springs in the afternoon and spends the night with Granny May and grandfather Jo in the top camp.
Kangaroos Hop
A gorgeous book, perfect for toddlers.
Kangaroos Hop helps children identify favourite Australian animals in the Australian landscape. The kangaroos hop, the butterflies fly, the echidnas shuffle across the land and down to the water's edge where a sleepy crocodile lies.Shhhh!
Look see, look at me
Look see, look at me.
I'm so much bigger now I'm three.
I can run, I can jump, I can skip, I can bump.
With its exuberant rhyming text and wonderful illustrations, Look See, Look at Me perfectly captures a child's everyday life and will be wonderful for sharing with your toddler over and over again.
Day Break
Day Break is the story of a family making their way back to Country on January 26. We see the strength they draw from being together, and from sharing stories as they move through a shifting landscape.
The story refocuses the narratives around ‘Australia Day’ on Indigenous survival and resistance, and in doing so honours the past while looking to the future. Confronting yet truthful, painful yet full of hope, Day Break is a crucial story that will open up a conversation on truth-telling for the next generation.
Tiddalick the Frog Who Caused a Flood
Tiddalick was so thirsty that he drank up all the rivers and billabongs in the land. And the other animals had to find a way to get the water back.
Dunbi the Owl
This book is based on a story told by Daisy Utemorrah of the Worora people to Aboriginal children living in Derby, Western Australia. The illustrations are adapted from their paintings of her story.
The Echidna and the Shade Tree
This book is based on a story told by Mona Green, of the Jaru people, to Aboriginal children living in Halls Creek, Western Australia. The illustrations are adapted from the children's original paintings of the story.
