First Nations books to gift junior and middle readers
From fast-paced adventures to an illustrated history of Songlines, there's something for every young reader within these pages.
Tamarra: A Story of Termites on Gurindji Country by Violet Wadrill, Topsy Dodd Ngarnjal, Leah Leaman, Cecelia Edwards, Cassandra Algy, Felicity Meakins, Briony Barr & Gregory Crocetti
Did you know there are four types of termite poo? Or that a warm paste made from termite mound is used to strengthen a Gurindji baby's body and spirit? Or that spinifex (which termites eat) is one of the strongest plants in the world?
Created as a collaboration between over 30 First Nations and non-Indigenous contributors, the story and artworks explore how termites and their mounds connect different parts of Country, from tiny Gurindji babies and their loving grandmothers, to spiky spinifex plants growing in the hot sun.
Written in traditional Gurindji, Gurindji Kriol and English (with a QR code to an audio version spoken in language), Tamarra is a truly original story with beautiful artwork that takes readers on an educational and cultural journey through Gurindji Country.
Songlines: First Knowledges for Younger Readers by Margo Neale, Lynne Kelly & Blak Douglas (illus.)
How do you find your way around, get your food and drink, connect with your friends and family? How do you know the right and safe way to do things, or how to make things? Before the white people came to the continent, all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples knew how to do all these things - and much, much more.
Margo Ngawa Neale and Lynne Kelly invite you on a journey through the oldest, biggest library of knowledge on Earth. This knowledge isn't held in books: you will find it in Songlines of the land, sea and sky.
Learn about history, art, song, science and more in this engaging and inviting introduction to Indigenous traditional knowledges, how they apply today and how they can help all people thrive into the future.
The Broken Rainbow (Nerra: Deep Time Traveller) by Tasma Walton & Samantha Campbell (illus.)
When Nerra's great-grandmother passes away, she leaves a box of artefacts to Nerra. Nerra is drawn to the clapsticks which glow red hot, and when she picks them up, she is transported back in time. Dreaming is out of balance and a hero needs to help. Bineal and Pirnbial, husband and wife of the rainbow, have been split apart and captured by the evil Devour'ena.
With the help of the Keeper of Clean Sand and Clear Water and the cleverman, Bobbinary, can Nerra reunite the rainbow and bring Dreaming back into balance?
Gurawul the Whale by Max Dulumunmun Harrison & Laura La Rosa (illus.)
More than 70 years ago, the ancient legend of Gurawul the whale was passed down to Yuin Elder Uncle Max Dulumunmun Harrison by his grandfather and uncles. He promised them that one day he would travel to the southern land, Tasmania, and search for the whale dreaming of their Ancestors.
This exquisitely illustrated book tells the story of Uncle Max's journey to fulfil that promise, and how he eventually came face to face with Gurawul.
Filled with important cultural knowledge and personal stories, Uncle Max sadly died before Gurawul could be published, and his family are continuing his legacy to show how science is finally beginning to catch up with these 'old blackfella' stories.
Hairy Holes by Brenton E. McKenna
Yawuru creator Brenton E McKenna brings you a superb storytelling experience of the outback supernatural, in his new black-and-white graphic novel, Hairy Holes.
Begley and Redley Hole are two hairy hole people living ordinary lives in the bush - that is until their world is lifted up and tossed on its rear when a lost tourist named Joplin stumbles upon them with promises of friendship and help to search for their parents.
Featuring some of Australia's toughest animals, suspiciously hairy holes in the desert and a crash course on the wonderful world of the internet, this hilarious graphic novel will crack you up and take you on a 'kray-zay' ride.
Custodians (Wylah the Koorie Warrior, Book 2) by Jordan Gould & Richard Pritchard
Wylah has already accomplished the unbelievable feat of uniting the five Guardians, but her journey is far from over. Together with her megafauna friends, she must travel through the treacherous and forbidden Valley of the Spirits to face off against the Dragon Army. Can Wylah defeat the perils that lay ahead and become the ultimate Koorie Warrior?
Embark on a heart-stopping journey filled with danger and excitement with book 2 in the bestselling Wylah the Koorie Warrior series. Inspired by First Nations history and grounded in culture, this is a must-read for adventure lovers of all ages!
This Book Thinks Ya Deadly!: A Celebration of Blak Excellence by Corey Tutt & Molly Hunt (illus.)
Written by Corey Tutt, author of The First Scientists, this book features the profiles of 80 Blakfellas who are doing deadly things across sport, art, activism and science, through to politics, education and literature. It showcases the careers and Corey's personal stories of First Nations People who have done great things in their respective fields, including Professor Marcia Langton, Miranda Tapsell, Tony Armstrong, Dr Anita Heiss, Danzal Baker (Baker Boy), Adam Goodes and Blak Douglas.
A celebration of Blak excellence, it will inspire future generations to create change and leave readers to ponder, 'What makes ME deadly?'
In My Blood It Runs by Dujuan Hoosan, Margaret Anderson, Carol Turner & Blak Douglas (illus.)
This is the story of Dujuan Hoosan, a 10-year-old Arrernte and Garawa boy. A wise, funny, cheeky boy. A healer. Out bush, his healing power (Ngangkere) is calm and straight. But in town, it's wobbly and wild, like a snake.
He's in trouble at school, and with the police. He thinks there's something wrong with him. Dujuan's family knows what to do: they send him to live out bush, to learn the ways of the old people, and the history that runs straight into all Aboriginal people. So he can be proud of himself.
Uncle Xbox by Jared Thomas
Dusty spends a lot of time playing games online, and usually with his stepdad, Marcus. One Saturday morning, Marcus loads his things into his car and leaves, taking his Xbox with him. Dusty is determined to buy an Xbox of his own and tries odd jobs that don’t quite work out. That is until cool Uncle Rick turns up. Uncle Rick introduces Dusty to surfing and teaches him about his culture and connection to Country. Dusty swiftly discovers that there is more to life than gaming.
A coming-of-age story for young gamers, that offers gentle insights into growing up, family and finding your place not only in a digital world, but in the messy soup of life.
Dirrarn by Carl Merrison & Hakea Hustler
We first met Mia in Black Cockatoo, as she navigated her way through culture, Country and familial ties. Dirrarn follows Mia as she finds herself at boarding school and the challenges of living thousands of kilometres away from home, family, and the big sky country she loves. Mia along with her best friend, Naya, negotiate new friends, new ways of thinking and new ways of being in a different world. As Mia wrestles with all that is unfamiliar, she soon must learn to stand in her truth when confronted with unending challenges.
The dirrarn (black cockatoo) is Mia's totem animal. It provides her with the strength and freedom to stay connected to her world, even when she is a long way from home. It is this totem she draws upon. Dirrarn is a sensitive story on the power of place, personality and the honour of standing up for the truth.