Occurring annually and hosted by the Children’s Book Council of Australia, Children’s Book Week in partnership with authors, illustrators, publishers, booksellers and other organisations in the children’s book world bring words, images and stories into the hearts and minds of children and adults.
Here are our four book recommendations to spark a love of reading within your young learners.
Possum Magic
What’s the story?
Possum Magic tells the story of Grandma Poss and Hush. Grandma uses her magic to make Hush invisible and protect her from Australian bush dangers. The book follows their journey around Australia to find the magic food that will make Hush visible again.
What are the key learnings?
Children will learn to appreciate Australia’s beauty, culture and food through this narrative quest.
Who sank the boat?
What’s the story?
The story revolves around five friends: a cow, a donkey, a sheep, a pig and a tiny mouse, who decided to take a boat out on the bay. They all carefully try to board the boat, but ultimately it sinks.
What are the key learnings?
The story will engage children and help them exercise their critical thinking skills and reasoning.
The Rainbow Serpent
What’s the story?
A timeless classic and a famous Aboriginal creation story, The Rainbow Serpent is a tale of a serpent who travelled below the ground and created mountains and gorges along his journey.
What are the key learnings?
It is a story that will introduce children to Aboriginal people’s relationships with the land and human communities.
Edward the Emu
What’s the story?
We meet Edward the emu, who is bored at the zoo. We follow his discoveries as he tries to become something else. He wants to be a different animal, so he lives like others. He tries swimming with seals, lounging with lions and slithering with snakes. But after experiencing the life of other animals, he learns that the best animal he could be is himself.
What are the key learnings?
This is a great story to teach children about the importance of loving and accepting oneself.
