Australian picture books for international friends
It’s time to start organising Christmas gifts for international friends and family. If you know little people overseas, an Australian picture book makes for a unique (and easy to post) present.
Here are our recommendations of the best picture books, classic and brand new, that demonstrate the quality of Australian authors and illustrators are, highlight our Indigenous cultures, introduce our mind-boggling fauna and bring the land down under a little bit closer.
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INDIGENOUS STORIES
Welcome to Country is a gorgeous introduction to Wurundjeri country – the traditional lands on which Melbourne is built – and the concept of a welcome to country ceremony. Written by respected Wurundjeri Senior Elder, Auntie Joy Murphy, and illustrated by Lisa Kennedy, this book presents vibrant Wurundjeri culture for curious young minds. Kids will love hearing about the sacred River White Gum and creator spirit Bunjil the eagle, brought to life with simple text and Kennedy’s beautiful paintings. For ages 4 and up.
Further recommendations:
The Rabbit Hole Golf Course – It doesn’t get more fun than this spirited story about jumping in the ute to search the desert for bush tucker and pet rabbits. This is a great read-out-loud story for ages 3 and up, full of youthful hijinks, rhythmic text and desert wildlife.
Big Fella Rain – Be transported to northern Australia to revel in a rain storm that transforms the dry and dusty landscape, and brings animals out in droves. This evocative picture book uses descriptive language economically and to great effect, and beautiful depictions of sky, clouds, rain, dirt, birds and animals. For ages 3 and up.
Why I Love Australia – Bronwyn Bancroft’s books are always a delight, with bold patterns and colours, and spare and poetic text. This one is a heartfelt ode to the varying landscapes of Australia, rural and urban. For ages 5 and up.
You can also find plenty more suggestions for Indigenous Australian picture books here.
AUSSIE CLASSICS
Possum Magic occupies a very special place in my heart. As a child I had the story of Little Hush and Grandma Poss read to me over and over again, until I could recite it verbatim. Grandma and Little Hush search valiantly for a cure for Hush’s invisibility, and find the solution lies in the most Australian of foods. For ages 4 and up.
Further recommendations:
Meet Snugglepot and Cuddlepie – May Gibbs’s iconic and classic Australian characters are introduced in a pared-back format that’s friendly for younger readers aged 3 and up. Also see Tales from the Billabong.
My Place – Travel backwards in time to see the one piece of land across different time periods, from 1788 to 1988. Told through the eyes of a succession of children, this is a fascinating visual tramp through Australian history. For ages 6 and up.
Wombat Stew – A hungry dingo tries to make some delicious wombat stew in this macabre and funny classic. Fortunately all the other animals have plenty of tricks up their sleeve to protect their wombat friend. For ages 2 and up.
MODERN AUSTRALIA
Meet 24 homegrown achievers and icons in the joyous Aussie Legends Alphabet. This bold and bright alphabet book covers a wide range of favourite and familiar legends: Adam Goodes, Kath and Kim, Lee Lin Chin, Bob Hawke, Phar Lap, Fred Hollows, and more. These famous Australians are described through admiring rhymes. For ages 3 and up.
Further recommendations:
I’m Australian Too – The wonderful Mem Fox has written a colourful ode to modern Aussie kids, whose families have trod a variety of paths to being Australian. For ages 5 and up.
The Thank-You Dish – Grace and her Mama sit down to dinner, and their pre-meal thank-you’s spin off into wonderfully lateral and surprising ways of thinking about how their food got to their plate – even the kangaroos get thanked! For ages 4 and up.
Why I Love Footy – Experience attending an AFL match by proxy with this delightful story that goes step-by-step through catching the train to the stadium, the positions, wearing team colours, running through the banner, buying the Footy Record, half-time junk food, and the pain of losing. For ages 4 and up.
A GUIDED TOUR
Six friendly magpies introduce little ones to the city of Melbourne in Hello, Melbourne!. The clean-cut, playful illustrations portray Melbourne’s most iconic sites, including Flinders Street Station, the Royal Botanic Gardens and Hosier Lane. You can even spy our very own Carlton bookshop on the ‘Little Italy’ page. For ages 3 and up.
Further recommendations:
Hello, Sydney! – Enjoy a similar tour of Sydney, this time with some friendly seagulls. Take in Taronga Zoo, Bondi Beach, the Aquarium, the Botanic Gardens and more. For ages 3 and up.
A is for Australia – Roam all over Australia in this wonderful book crammed full of locations and factual tidbits. Visit Coober Pedy, Rottnest Island, Uluru and more. For ages 3 and up.
Are We There Yet? – Join an Australian family on their adventure-laden road trip around Australia in this charming Australian classic that views our huge country through a child’s eyes. For ages 5 and up.
When You Go To Melbourne – This delightful search-and-find book with vibrant illustrations takes the reader around the city, pointing out landmarks, asking questions and encouraging kids to get to know Melbourne better. For ages 5 and up.
Melbourne Word By Word and Sydney Word by Word – Colourful retro illustrations come to the fore in these two stylish books that present iconic landmarks and simple words. For ages 2 and up.
AUSSIE ANIMALS
Let’s give some love to picture book koalas!
In Koalas Eat Gum Leaves a young koala abandons eucalyptus leaves and goes on a bold gastronomic journey with mixed results (for ages 2 and up). Warren the koala tries to set the taxonomic record straight in the hilarious and scientifically illuminating Don’t Call Me Bear (for ages 4 and up) – as does the equally frustrated koala in Koala Bare (for ages 3 and up). And little Koala learns to be independent in Koala (for ages 4 and up) as he searches for his own tree and encounters snakes, storms and the effects of bushfires.
Further recommendations:
Once I Heard a Little Wombat – A gentle nursery-style rhyme wanders through this lovely board book, along with cute black-and-white illustrated animals. Renee Treml’s sweet animal board books are perfect for reading out loud to babies and toddlers, and the ideal size for posting. For ages 0 and up.
A is for Australian Animals – Meet an alphabet of creatures in the brightly painted pages of this fact-filled book. This is one that animal lovers will pore over. For ages 3 and up.
Lullaby and Goodnight – The traditional lullaby is given an Australian spin as all the animals settle down for the night. This book comes with a bonus CD to listen to and drift off into dreamland. For ages 0 and up.
FAVOURITE CHARACTERS
Pig the Pug has captured the Australian imagination in a series of picture books that expose his essential selfishness, greediness and rudeness – all for the entertainment of the reader, of course. Kids love this irascible dog and his sausage dog mate/competition Trevor. There’s plenty of laughs at Pig’s expense – he always gets his comeuppance, but never quite seems to learn the lesson.
In the most recent Pig the Pug title, Pig the Star, Pig has a complete meltdown when he realises that Trevor is outshining him at a photo shoot.
Further recommendations:
Meet Mr Chicken – Australia’s most-loved giant yellow jet-setting chicken has been to Paris, London and Rome, startling locals and tourists at landmarks with his unique nature – where will Mr Chicken go next? For ages 3 and up.
Meet Wombat – Wombat was first introduced to us in Diary of a Wombat, and this very busy marsupial has gone on since to have plenty of adventures, while still finding plenty of time to eat, sleep and scratch. For ages 2 and up.
Meet Little Dog – Little Dog will melt your heart with his sweet, scruffy face and loyalty. Little Dog and the Christmas Wish and Little Dog and the Summer Holiday are gentle, whimsical stories that celebrates family. For ages 4 and up.
