AustLit

'Every week, Rosie and her mother drive down the bumpy dirt road and across the rocky riverbed to visit the 'Shop Train'.

'The Shop Train was inspired by the Tea and Sugar train that began operating in 1917 to provide supplies and services for railworkers and people living in remote communities between Port Augusta in South Australia and Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.

'The Shop Train is a heartwarming story about Rosie and her mum, and the rickety journey in their old car to pick up stores from the shop train. The train carried everything they needed, and was an exciting time for all who lived near its tracks. Rosie and her mum slowly wind their way through Wonghi country, on its dusty tracks and never-ending horizon, until they reach the train, brimming with activity and treasures from other places.

'Paul Seden's evocative illustrations effortlessly capture a bygone era, rendering the past with a deep sense of nostalgia, whilst capturing its uncluttered beauty. The Shop Train was inspired by similar journeys author Josie Wowolla Boyle took as a young girl. It was these journeys that left unforgettable memories on Josie, no matter how young or old she may have been.'  (Publication summary)

'When a group of desert children invite their school teacher, Mrs White, home for dinner to show her why their homework is always grubby, no-one expects what is to come!

'They are happily showing Mrs White their higgledy piggledy garden when suddenly a big red sand storm comes billowing over the hill. Sand and spinifex whips at their legs and flies at their heads. They can hardly see through the storm.

'They hurry back home, only to discover that everything is now red. Their lovely clean house is covered in red dust. The beds are red. The washing on the line is red. The table is red. Their delicious dinner is red and ruined. And Mrs White’s clean white dress has turned into a dusty red dress. Now Mrs White finally knows why the children’s homework is always so grubby!' (Publication summary)

'The second book in the creative collaboration of storyteller Josie Boyle and illustrator, Fern Martins. There once lived a sad lady whose only friends were the flowers in her garden. This is the story of a sad lady who is inspired by an unusual flower in her garden to paint spots on her cups and saucers. This then extends to her kitchen, to all over her house! She is no longer sad and she paints her way into the hearts of her neighbours and her street becomes the happiest in the neighbourhood, A delightful tale of the transformative power of nature – offering a glimpse of how the natural and emotional worlds can connect in making the ordinary extraordinary.' (Publisher's blurb)

'Bubbay lives in the outback spending his days protecting a herd of goats from dingoes. He sleeps in his swag under the stars and the only person he visits is Mrs Timms for chicken's eggs. One night, just before Christmas, Bubbay wishes for something he has never had. His friends, the stars hear him and, with the help of a talking Christmas tree, the magical Gubarlee and five desert animals, Bubbay begins a quest to make his dearest wish come true. A hopeful story full of magic, combined with richly textured illustrations of Australian plants and animals, Bubbay offers a glimpse of how the natural and spiritual worlds can intervene by making ordinary lives better.' (Source: Magabala Books website, www.magabala.com)

'Two stories from two ancient cultures together under the stars - an Aboriginal Wongi Dreaming tale and an Ancient Greek Myth - explored through the medium of contemporary dance.'

'Discover how our shared stories connect us and make us strong. Journey into two tales which encourage you to see through and beyond the stories themselves and into a world that unites all Australians regardless of cultural origin.'

'Diaphanous: seeing through and beyond presents the traditional Wongi Seven Sisters story alongside the Greek Orion story, both arising from the astrological constellation which is visible from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres at night.' (Source: Ochre Contemporary Dance Company website)

This story was told to Josie Boyle by her mother, it is a story from the desert people of the Wongi tribe formerly part of the Western Desert groups.

This is a creation story about the desert and how at first it was a jungle paradise with Dinosaurs and giant animals. Slowly these animals disappeared and this is how the desert came to be.

This story was originally told to Josie by her mother, and is a story from the Wongi tribe, a small desert group. The story is about the time of the dreamtime when once lived a snake and he had a special friend the goanna.

The Goo-roo Daarn is a creation story of how the Sturt Desert Pea came to be.