AustLit

'In 1982, Shane Howard's massive anthem "Solid Rock" from the album Spirit of Place, (recorded with his legendary band Goanna), reverberated across the airwaves and still does today.

'It was one of the first songs of its idiom to broach the subject of Aboriginal rights in Australia and impacted powerfully on a whole new generation of writers and musicians that followed. The album was released in 35 territories, worldwide.

'Solid Rock is an inspirational Australian story by singer songwriter Shane Howard, illustrated by the school children from Mutujulu, near Uluru, Australia.

'Shane returned to Uluru with renowned Queensland artist Peter Hudson to gather stunning illustrations from the local school children to adorn the book and retell the story of these famous lyrics for a new generation. Peter Hudson's brilliant images of Uluru and surrounding landscape place the story in the land itself.' (From the publisher's website.)

'"Took the Children Away", is a moving indictment of the treatment of indigenous children from the 'Stolen Generation' and a song which 'struck a chord' not only among the wider Aboriginal community, but also nationally. The song was awarded two ARIA Awards, as well as an international Human Rights Achievement Award, the first time this had been awarded to a songwriter because of a song. The album it came from featured in Rolling Stone magazine's Top 100 Albums for 1992.

'From the lyrics of this iconic song a very special book for children of all ages has been created. Featuring he heart wrenching lyrics of Archie Roach and the classic artwork of his late wife and soul-mate Ruby Hunter, this book is destined to become a masterpiece.

'Renowned Queensland artist, Peter Hudson has adorned the book with his stunning landscapes of South West Victoria - Archie's traditional lands.' (From the publisher's website.)

'From the iconic Australian song written by Neil Murray comes an exciting and inspirational story for children of all ages. Every page is bursting with colour to depict the song lyrics as seen by the paintings of school children of the Kintore and Galiwinku communities.

'Neil Murray travelled back to these places that inspired his beautiful song with renowned Queensland artist, Peter Hudson. Peter's artwork graces the book with his stunning landscapes ... writer Martin Flanagan [says] "Aboriginal people sing 'My Island Home' like it's theirs. White people sing it like it's theirs. People in Australia who have come from other countries, other cultures, sing 'My Island Home' like it's theirs. That what makes it such a great song. Everyone who loves Australia can sing it."

'This was the song sung at the closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympics and will become a must have in every Australian home!

'A percentage of the profits will be returned to Ian Thorpe's Fountain for Youth, who have in part funded the project and will auspice the raised funds.' (From the publisher's website.)

From Little Things Big Things Grow presents the lyrics of the Kev Carmody and Paul Kelly song of the same title, alongside the history of the Gurindji people's plight for their traditional land in the Northern Territory.

The song recounts the story of when Vincent Lingiari and other Gurindji workers walked off the Wave Hill cattle station in 1966. What began as a strike over wages and conditions became an eight-year long struggle for the return of traditional lands. It ended in August 1975 when Prime Minister Gough Whitlam symbolically poured sand into old Lingiari's hand. The book is illustrated Queensland artist Peter Hudson and the kids from Gurindji country.

From Little Things Big Things Grow is a not-for-profit project established to raise funds to provide art, heritage, and cultural facilities for Gurindji people, with the assistance of Ian Thorpe's Fountain for Youth.

The budding young artists who illustrated From Little Things Big Things Grow attend the local Kalkaringi Community Education Centre (CEC). Kalkaringi is a remote community approximately 500km southwest of Katherine in the Northern Territory. The school services both Kalkaringi and the nearby community of Dargaragu. (Adapted from Publisher's Website)