AustLit

'‘I can count to ten! Can you count to ten with me?’

'Another testament to Sally Morgan’s advocacy for early literacy learning, I Can Count is a fun and interactive way for families and young readers to learn to count together. With a soaring sun, coral clouds, purple frogs, pink snakes, lime birds, blue dragonflies, peach butterflies, yellow possums, orange owls and green stars this is a visual feast for young eyes. Jingalu’s unique artwork is quirky, contemporary and vibrant ― emphasising fun in learning.

'The perfect gift for young children, this book will be an absolute joy to share over and over again.' (Publication summary)

'‘Each protest has been a stepping stone to the next battle...’

'From the very first protest of January 26th as a Day of Mourning in 1938, to the Pilbara Strike of 1946, to the struggle for the right to vote and be counted; the fight for justice for First Nations people takes many forms.

'Always Was, Always Will Be takes a closer look at some of the iconic First Peoples protest movements of the last 200 years, celebrating the strength, wisdom, and bravery of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people defending their land and asserting their right to self-determination through history.' (Publication summary)

'‘We are many different people in Australia, and we all live in one big country. What may seem like a simple flag to some people, has given all Torres Strait Islanders an identity and a sense of pride...’

'Bernard Namok Jnr was just a little boy when his dad designed the Torres Strait Islander Flag, a symbol of unity, shared identity and pride for all Torres Strait Islanders. This is the story of a flag and what it represents.

'Alongside Mordey’s stunning digital illustrations reflecting the vibrant colours of the Torres Strait, Namok Jnr and Mayo present an engaging, personal story that invites young readers to learn about the Torres Strait Islander peoples, place and culture. Our Flag, Our Story shares an essential piece of Australian and Torres Strait Islander history, accessible for all ages.' (Publication summary)

'Kangaroo and Emu make the first boomerang and see the first sunrise.

'Now there are days and nights … And people can find their way across Country.

'The First Sunrise is a Mbabaram creation story from Mbabaram Country in Far North Queensland and is an engaging and beautiful book for curious minds.

'The story centres around the Creator Spirit, Mulungh, directing Emu and Kangaroo how to make the first returning boomerang, which, when thrown, causes the sun to arc across the sky, forming the creation of day and night. The arrival of the first sunrise teaches Emu and Kangaroo how to read shadows, follow directions and understand the orbit of the earth around the sun, making this book perfect for use in the classroom.

'This story was told to Nessa by her father, Colin Alec Stevens (Alick Chalk), who lived traditionally in the Aboriginal Camps of Irvinebank, Bakerville and Watsonville in North Queensland, from 1901 to 1916. His learnings and stories, remain important to Mbabaram culture, language and identity.

'The First Sunrise is the inaugural title in the new Magabala series First Peoples • First Sciences ― children’s picture books that pair fun science with First Nations knowledge.' (Publication summary)

'Because I Love Him by Ashlee Donohue is a memoir of privileged insight into strong family ties, the intricacies of relationships and the unspoken expectations within urban Aboriginal communities. This is a very personal account of love, loss, addiction, motherhood and domestic violence. Ashlee chronicles the profound impact of life on the margins on herself, her family and her community.

'A proud Dunghutti woman, born and raised in Kempsey NSW, Ashlee was determined to keep her family together, despite the unforgivable acts and inevitable fallout, to gift her children what she never had—the presence of their father.

'This deeply engaging and inspiring memoir gives the reader a privileged look into a life unravelling and the journey from addict to empowerment. A riveting story told with compassion and sensitivity.' (Publication summary)

'Big, Big Love is filled with beautiful illustrations and a soft, lilting text that is easy for children to follow along. It is a tender story for early childhood readers that embraces the message of unconditional love and acceptance.

'A true ode to motherhood.' (Publication summary)

''You can't enslave us all, Captain!' I yelled into his face. 'We will resist, and you will die a beaten man. Our Blackfellows will rise...'

'From the acclaimed author of the Miles Franklin longlisted Madukka: The River Serpent (UWA) and the Barbara Jefferis Award shortlisted Benevolence, Compassion continues Julie Janson's emotional and intense literary exploration of the complex and dangerous lives of Aboriginal women during the 1800s in colonial New South Wales, which she began in Benevolence as a counter narrative to colonial history in Australian literature.

'Compassion is the dramatised life story of one of Julie Janson's ancestors who went on trial for stealing livestock in New South Wales, and it is an exciting and violent story of anti-colonial revenge and roaming adventure. A gripping fictive account of Aboriginal life in the 1800s, Compassion follows the life of Duringah, AKA Nell James, the outlaw daughter of the Darug hero of Benevolence, Muraging.' (Publication summary)

'This is the first book in the new 'Scales and Tails' series by award-winning children’s book author Gregg Dreise and the first in a new square format. Told with heart and humour, Super Snake will be a family favourite. 

'A charming morality tale, this book tells the tale of the Rainbow Serpent and the creation of the Darling/Barka River. 

'In the Dreamtime, the bush was in the middle of a drought. A storm came and Mundegutta Gooriya the Super Snake was created. 

'Way back, before Once-upon-a-time there was the Dreamtime and the bush was in the middle of a drought.

'After a storm, one large rainbow curved down. The Super Snake slithered down that rainbow on to the earth and promised the Elders he could help them find water. That Super Snake called out, ‘You can’t have a rainbow without water.

'‘Dhurraluwi guuma-li — Come together! Wantima — Rise up! Woorri — Share.’ ' 

Like many, Gregg read The Rainbow Serpent by Dick Roughsey in primary school. He has always wanted to make a Rainbow Serpent book from his own Culture to highlight to people the diverse Countries and Cultures across Australia. Although people around the world may think of Aboriginal people as all being the same, there are hundreds of Countries on this continent. (Publication summary)

'to open up / to respond as genuinely as possible / to offer hope / we want things to change / weaving solidarity from place and history / into collective purpose (Ellen Van Neerven and Layli Long Soldier)

'Following from the much-loved Guwayu anthology, this second collaboration between Red Room Poetry and Magabala Books invites some of the world’s leading First Nations poets together in poetic conversation. This collection weaves words across lands and seas, gathering collaborative threads and shining a light on First Nations poetry from Australia and across the globe.

''By anchoring the project in relationality, Woven’s foundation is about how we connect with each other and what we are prepared, as First Nation artists, to offer and receive. The emphasis was about (re)generating poetic First Nations bonds ― solidarity, consensus, family, land, oceans, the moon, remembering, dreaming, sharing, opening, mourning, respect, celebrating, finding, losing, healing and more healing.' ― Anne-Marie Te Whiu' (Publication summary)

'The 12 short life stories in Telling are grounded in First Nations storytelling traditions and reveal the diverse and complex nature of the experience of living in the wake of colonialisation. Telling fits with this year’s NAIDOC theme, For Our Elders. It also speaks to the contemporary political movement for truth-telling and Treaty in Victoria and nationally. The voices of First Nations Elders living in Victoria are prioritised and honoured in this work.

'These stories are from all over Australia. Each Elder reflects on intergenerational trauma, Stolen Generations, reconnection and resistance, demonstrating their deeply felt Black pride and joy and celebrating their stories of survival.

'Aunty Yvonne Luke recounts her epic journey of reconnecting to Alyawerre country after several generations of removal. Koori leader Uncle Mik Edwards describs his brave story of survival after being removed forcibly from his family in 1967, and Marion Hansen tells of her surprise at being crowned Miss NAIDOC in 1969.

'The evocative photographs provided by the authors bring an intimacy to this vital historical testimony that will be enjoyed by Indigenous and non-Indigenous readers alike.' (Publication summary)

'Returning is a stunning work – a poetic and visual feast that takes you on Kirli’s journey of rediscovering self, Country and Connection. Kirli’s heartfelt experiences address large contemporary themes of decolonisation, self-determination, Identity, First Nations matriarchy, queerness, justice, love, liberation, and truth-telling. The backdrop to Returning is a time of huge upheaval with natural disasters, COVID and the Black Lives Matter Movement.

'Each poem is accompanied by evocative and poignant artwork that was created in response to its poem and vitalises its meaning. The artworks, visual poems, were originally shown at SHAC Gallery, Gundungurra land, in 2021 in the exhibition named Returning. Kirli’s multi-disciplinary artworks span across a range of mediums and displays, including but not limited to water colour, ink on hand-dyed silk, synthesising digital imagery with text, and installations of hand-crafted possum skin cloaks and weavings.

'Returning was developed with consultation and guidance from First Nations Elders, Custodians, academics and artists.' (Publication summary)

'Utterly charming! Penguin Oh Penguin is a gentle early childhood story about a penguin that runs away to be at sea. Rhyme is one of the building blocks of language learning, and this prosaic title highlights friendship, hope and home. The lilting rhythm of the verse comes through and is an absolute delight to read aloud. Perfect for toddlers and little wrigglers, this book will also appeal to older children who will love reading it themselves, or who may want to sing along.

'‘I wrote Penguin Oh Penguin for my children over sixty years ago. I was always making up stories and songs for them but this one was the favourite. It came about when I bought a little black velvet penguin toy that we played with at bedtime.’ – Gladys Milroy' (Publication summary)

'Compulsory reading for early teens and young adults. Based on true events, this gripping thriller sheds light on the brutalities of the past whilst championing the heroes who survived.

'Robert Runs is a fast-paced thriller based on the author's great-great grandfather, Robert 'Goupong' Anderson, who was once the fastest man in Australia and world-record holder. Goupong, his little sister Dot, and his best friend Jonathan belong to the Ugarapul people, the Green Tree Frog tribe, and live with their families and others within the harsh confines of the Deebing Creek Mission - a place run by the malevolent Boss Man.

'Goupong and Jonathan are focused on winning the mission's biggest running race that year, but when mysterious noises, unexplained occurrences and biblical events begin to plague the local area they are forced to investigate.

'Robert Runs is a poignant look into the Deebing Creek Massacre and the tough reality of mission life. Weaving fact with fiction, this compelling story details the events leading up to that fateful day.

'Will Goupong and Jonathan be strong enough to defeat the monster in the bush, or are the real monsters closer to home?' (Publication summary)

'This book is a collected works of one of Australia’s most accomplished media personalities. Chronicling his career since 2007, Close to the Subject presents a selection of pieces from Daniel Browning’s stellar career as a journalist, radio broadcaster, critic and interviewer.' 

'Alongside conversations with the likes of the late Archie Roach, Doris Pilkington, and Vernon Ah Kee, the book contains a series of critical essays displaying Browning’s talent as an Australian cultural critic and public intellectual. A range of previously unpublished poetry, memoir, art writing and play script is also presented, highlighting his vulnerable and passionate creative side in its own right (Publication summary)  

'Five crunchy conkerberries on the thorny bush.’

'Join two tiddas as they spend the day collecting delicious bush tucker to put in their coolamon.

'Bush Tucker Counting by Maureen Glover is a beautiful board book filled with cheerful watercolour illustrations by Gabrielle Fry depicting various bush tucker from the North of Australia. This book introduces early childhood readers to education concepts such as ordinal numbers, adjectives and alliteration.

'Bush Tucker Counting is a great introduction to reading and counting for young children.' (Publication summary) 

'When two boys go fishing they are unaware that the Argula, the bush devil, is watching them and helping itself to all their fish. The boys finally see the Argula’s glowing red eyes – but it is too late and they become the Argula’s next meal! When they are rescued, they are unconscious and have to be shocked back to consciousness by fire ants. Once safely home they vow to never be greedy again and to always watch out for the Argula.

'This is the second title in the Kimberley Art Centre Series, working with Kirsty Burgu from Mowanjum Art and Cultural Centre. The story was told to Kirsty as a child and the Arugula is not considered to be myth but it is thought to exist – rock art featuring the Argula are found along the Kimberly coastline.' (Publication summary)

'Gurril could not understand why everyone was afraid of a snake, even if it was Gudju-gudju, the rainbow serpent! But he was soon to discover just how powerful Gudju-gudju really was and why it is not a good idea to torment the rainbow serpent.

'Gurril, Storm Bird is a Gimuy Walubara (pronounced ghee-moy-wah-la-burra) Yidinji traditional story that helps to explain the cultural beliefs held by the Yidinji First Nations People of Cairns. The Gimuy Walubarra are the traditional custodians of Cairns and the surrounding regions.

'This story has been told orally by many generations over thousands of years and is intrinsic to the Yidinji culture, both past and present. The call of the storm bird helps the Yidinji people prepare for the arrival of rain or the wet season. During the dry season the Gimuy Walubara people would dance and mimic the storm bird to bring in the rain.' (Publication summary)

'She Is the Earth is the luminous new verse novel from celebrated poet Ali Cobby Eckermann. It charts a journey through grief and celebrates the healing power of Country. We follow Eckermann’s soft footfalls in the open (but far from empty) spaces between earth and sky; from sandstone to wetlands, from plains to mountain ranges.

'Eckermann’s writing soars in this meditative and transformative piece. Soaked in lightness and dark, history and dreaming, her words will move you, shake you, devastate you and uplift you. This book is full of unexpected beauty in slow, contemplative moments. Read it to see the ‘She’ in and around all of us.' (Publication summary)