AustLit

'This book is about Clumsy, a red-necked stint, who flies to the Gippsland Lakes from Siberia. When he reaches the Gippsland Lakes there are a few problems that he encounters. He is helped by a young girl named Lily. She helps to raise awareness of the red-necked stint and the Gippsland Lakes.' (Publication summary)

'This book is a story about Boorun the Pelican and his journey to get to the Gippsland Lakes. Boorun meets up with Goongerah the possum and a little bull ant who, together, help each other survive as they travel to the Lakes. They find bush tucker and medicine along their travels.

'This book uses Gunaikurnai language to help introduce the reader to the traditional language of the Gunaikurnai people who live in East Gippsland.' (Publication summary)

'This book is a narrative about the Burrunan dolphin, a new species found living in the Gippsland Lakes. The students were involved in a workshop with Dr Kate Charlton-Robb from the Australian Marine Mammal Conservation Foundation where they learnt about the Burrunan dolphin.' (Publication summary)

'This book is a narrative about a Bream and his friend Flatty the Flathead who take a trip down the Tambo River to visit some feeding grounds at Metung. Along the way Bream gets caught by fishermen while trying to save a sand worm. Does he survive being caught? Read the book to find out.' (Publication summary)

'Dust and Boom go on a tour of the Gippsland Lakes. On the bus they meet a local Gunaikurnai man named Alfie. He helps them identify the various wildlife along the journey.' (Publication summary)

'Cotton farmer Steven almost runs over an Eddie the echidna with his cotton harvester. He realises that there are lots of other animals also in his cotton fields. Read this book to find out what he does for all the wildlife.' (Publication summary)

'Farmer Matt was using siphon flood irrigation on his crops. He realised he was using way too much water. He finds out about centre pivot irrigation and this improves his water use and his crops.' (Publication summary)

'The Worth family are getting ready to tag, drench and mark their cattle and calves. It’s a busy time in the cattle yards and everyone pitches in to help out.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'There are some eggs missing from the chicken yard. What could be happening? Read James and Tahlia’s adventure as they find the culprit to the mystery in the chicken yard.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Robert and his son, Cooper, go on a journey to improve their farm. With the advice of the local community they turn their farm around by making sure that beneficial animals on their farm to help control the insect pests attacking their crops. They also work on removing invasive weeds, improving the soil and leaving native vegetation on the property.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Polly is an orphaned lamb who gets raised by a caring family.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Throughout Australia, Aboriginal people use icons or symbols to tell their stories. These icons and symbols are used in paintings, rock engravings and carvings to show the people, animals, plants and general features of their traditional lands. ...'

'Aboriginal people were the masters of life in the Australian bush. They used the land to provide themselves with food, water, medicines, clothing and shelter. ...' (Source: Aboriginal Life, 2014:2)

'This book has some brief statements about what totems are, what it means to have a totem and how to look after it.' (Source: Enviro-Stories Library website)

'Long ago in Australia there was a boy from the Wiradjuri tribe name Burnum. His name

means ‘Great Warrior.’ ...'

'In the Dreamtime, the Koala was always awake, even at night! ...'

'Traditionally, Aboriginal people lived very differently to how we do today. They had different sources of food, they made tools and shelters differently, they celebrated differently and they had different beliefs. This book looks at how life was in Australia before European colonisation.' (Source: Enviro-Stories Library website)

'Stormboy is proudly Aboriginal but most people say he doesn’t look like it. Uncle Farren tells him stories about traditional living on Wongaibon lands.' (Source: Enviro Stories Library website)

'Borenore Public School loved learning about Aboriginal Culture to create this book. We were excited to hear the wonderful Dreamtime stories. These stories explain how things came to be and have important lessons about how Aboriginal people should live. This book contains our interpretations of three of our favourite Dreamtime stories.' (Source: Enviro Stories Library website)

'Warra lived in the Lachlan area. He was part of the Wiradjuri Nation. Warra was only 8 years old and all of the older boys always pushed him around. He wanted to prove that he could be helpful too. He has an accident and almost drowns but is saved by a giant Platypus – his Wiradjuri totem. Is it a dream?' (Source: Enviro Stories Library website)

'Hugh didn’t think it mattered whose land he was on, or who used to live here, until one day the Rainbow Serpent transported him back in time to see for himself. He learns about totems, tools and bush tucker and when returning to his own time he has a greater respect for those who used to call this land home.' (Source: Enviro Stories Library website)

This story talks about the destructive nature of camels on an outback community.

'Qweerk the frog and his native animal friends were very upset about the Feral Fox that had moved in. The animals decide to have a meeting with Man to see if they can help them. Arguments start but you’ll have to read the book to see how they sort it out.' (Source: Enviro Stories Library website)

'Fred the Fox is looking for food. He is only a young fox and doesn’t know what to eat. He comes across two rabbits. Find out what they do to escape this silly, silly fox.' (Source: Enviro Stories Library website)

'The Indian myna (or Common myna) is a type of bird that easily adapts to many different environments. They are classed as one of the 100 most invasive species in the world. Yelarbon students have researched the Indian myna to prepare a factual account of the bird and why they are a pest animal.' (Source: Enviro Stories Library website)

'Francesca the fruit fly is looking for a new place to go and lay her eggs. She finds a nice farm full of apricot and orange orchards. But she soon discovers, from the other farm animals, that it is not a safe place for the pesky fruit fly as the farmer has measures in place to keep female fruit flies from ruining his fruit.' (Source: Enviro-Stories Library website)

A story about Louie the Queensland fruit fly.

'Look at this sad, unloved town! This little country town used to have a warm, welcoming ambience that made people want to live here…but not anymore!'

'A pest species, known as the feral pig, invaded the area and caused enormous damage forcing everyone to leave. Read more to find out what happened.' (Source: Enviro Stories Library website)

'As the fading colours keep on descending, I hear the sound of cows struggling to survive as they walk across the cracking ground.

I wait for my time to fall. I try and try to break free but the cloud holds me in.

Another beautifully written prose story from Inverell Public School students. This story is about a raindrop who just wants to fall and soothe the dry, cracked land.'

(Publication summary)

'Jeff relied on water in his dams to irrigate his farm. It was a drought and the dams were drying up. He was scared that if it didn’t rain soon he would need to consider selling the farm. It was the only way he could think of to support his family.

He had only just put up the sign when… it started to rain! Big, fat raindrops were falling from the sky.'

(Publication Summary)

'Blossom, a Santa Gertrudis cow from Bruce’s herd, is really struggling as she has only just enough milk to supply her calf, Rosie. Blossom and Rosie witness their herd getting thinner and slowly die from lack of water and the intense hot conditions. It’s a sad time on the farm.

Can Blossom and Rosie survive? You’ll have to read this book to find out'

(Publication Summary)

'Henry and Ary are ducks that need to find a new homes Narrabri Creek wasn’t a nice place to live anymore because of the drought. There wasn’t enough food for their growing family. This story takes you on Henry’s journey to find a new home for Ary and their un-hatched duckling.'

(Publication Summary)

'This beautifully written book, in prose, really highlights the hardships farmers face during drought. The imagery the words create are very powerful, and the illustrations back up the story.'

(Publication Summary)

'My name is Amanda and I live in outback Australia. It hasn’t rained here for over a year. It’s been really sweltering – so hot and dry.'

This story is about the impact that drought has on an outback community and acknowledges the wonderful and vital role of the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners and the Drought Angels.

(Publication Summary)

'This book profiles two Wiradjuri women – Aunty Sonia and Aunty Phyllis from the small village of Brungle, located at the base of the Snowy Mountains between Tumut and Gundagai, New South Wales. Together they have a company called Sophy Designs – they use different Aboriginal materials and natural fibres to make hats, bags and clothes. They were both involved in the establishment of the Brungle Medical Centre and teach Wiradjuri culture at the Brungle Public School.' (Publication summary)

'The four Stage 2 classes from Koorignal Public School created this book through a divided-and-conquer process. They formed student collaborative learning teams, where each team took responsibility for a page in the book. The book focuses on various aspects of Wiraduri culture including language, art, tools, tucker, games, stories, interviewing local Elders and providing highlights of their excursion and learning experiences.' (Publication summary)

'This story is about Mr. Tony Rudd, a Kamilaroi man, who is the Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer (ALCO) for the Department of Education and Communities based in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. '

'This book reflects the traditional culture used by the Wiradjuri, Walgalu (Walgaloo) and Ngarigo people who resided in the Snowy Mountains area for thousands of years before white settlers migrated to Australia. Traditional practices and artefacts referred to in the book include making coolamons, using burls to make large bowls, making fire, passing on Dreaming stories, painting using ochre, creating stone tools, weaving and exploring a significant Aboriginal site.' (Publication summary)

'Gubba and his family lived on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River near the New South Wales town of Hay. They lived there with other Aboriginal families and shared their food and lifestyle with one another. He often comes back with his wife and children to his place on the river where he truly feels at home.

'Gubba takes many children on tours and shows them tools and weapons such as grinding stones, boomerangs, spearheads, coolamons and hammer stones. He feels a connection with the land and asks that others listen to the country around them and take time to hear what their elders say.' (Publication summary)

'Griffith resides on Wiradjuri country. In this area there were many family groups who lived on the land and around the rivers nearby. To learn more about local Wiradjuri culture, the students visited Aunt Gloria Goolagong to learn about her life and knowledge of Wiradjuri history. They compared her stories to how Griffith looks today – a landscape filled with houses and farms.' (Publication summary)

'Culcairn is a friendly welcoming town. The Honorary James Balfour was credited with founding Culcairn; named after the Shire of Kiltearn in Scotland.

'The Culcairn district is mainly a farming community. The major income for farmers is through sheep, beef cattle and cereal crops including wheat, barley and canola.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Welcome to the Edward River, the heart of Deniliquin! The people of Deniliquin rely on the Edward River every day for drinking water, irrigation and tourism.

'During the last 60,000 years, a major earthquake-like event occurred pushing up the land between Echuca and Deniliquin. This made the Murray River change course and allowed for the smaller Edward River to be formed. This book documents the various uses and management of the water flowing in the Edward River.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Holbrook is the largest town in the Greater Hume Shire, NSW. Holbrook is named after the Lieutenant Norman Holbrook, the first British naval recipient of the Victoria Cross. Because of it’s [sic] naval name-sake, Holbrook is well-known for the large HMAS Otway submarine located in the centre of town that has been supplied by the Royal Australian Navy.

'Holbrook is an inspiring town filled with amazing people. We are so privileged and happy to live in this fantastic town!'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'This book take a look at the history of Lowesdale and how the town has developed over time. The students visited local sites and interviewed members of the community to write the towns history. Also included are four personal accounts from some of the students who live on farms in the Lowesdale district.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Tumbarumba is the gateway to the Snowy Mountains; amazing scenery, beautiful free camping grounds and invigorating mountain air. So next time you are passing by Tumbarumba, why don’t you stop and have a chat to the locals. To learn more about the history of Tumbarumba, download and read this book.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Our community has been known by many names, Carratha, Pine Hills, Narrama and now it is called Mayrung. In traditional Aboriginal language, the area Carratha means ‘place of many pines.’ The Europeans first settled in Carratha around 1870 because of the good water supply.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Toogimbie is a property situated west of Hay along the Murrumbidgee River. Over half of the property is set aside as conservation and cultural areas. Toogimbie Station was taken up by squatters in the mid 1800s and this is when the local Aboriginal people first came into contact with new settlers.

'The property was purchased by the Indigenous Land Corporation in 2000 and it is now managed by traditional custodians. The property supports the growth of traditional bush foods and medicines, protect numerous burial sites and artefacts.

'Toogimbie is a great example of modern day farming coexisting with Aboriginal cultural land and fragile important wetlands.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Lake Mulwala is an important part of both the Federation Shire and the Murray River Irrigation system, not only for recreation, but also financially. It was constructed in 1935 and completed in 1939. It is roughly a quarter the size of the Sydney Harbour in capacity. Every year thousands of tourists visit the area to use the lake for a wide range of purposes.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Thurgoona is a town eight kilometres north east of Albury. Thurgoona has changed over time. This book explores how the town has changed, especially with development over the past 40-50 years.

'Thurgoona will continue to change and grow. It is important to remember our history and what others before us have achieved.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Tocumwal is a small town located on the border of NSW and Victoria. The town is full of character and old world charm combined with its agricultural heritage and country lifestyle.

'Tocumwal on the Murray is a great town with a rich Aboriginal and European history. Tocumwal was named after an Aboriginal word meaning ‘deep hole’ and the Yorta Yorta people lived around here for thousands of years. One of the first influential settlers of Tocumwal was Edward Hillson in the 1860s; “The King of Toc” they called him.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Walla Walla is a rural town in New South Wales, which has a proud history. There are significant landmarks and points of interest located within the town and its outskirts.

'As you read this book, follow the old horse-drawn wagons for a timeline of the town’s history – from 1836 to 1985.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Welcome to our small country town of Walbundrie!

'Walbundrie is located 52 kilometres from Albury. It is called the crossroads of Riverina because many country roads cross over in Walbundrie. In the late 1850s, it was known as the gold mining village of Piney Range. It is home to a community of friendly country people.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.