Over at the Koori Curriculum we LOVE children’s books and have a great range in our shop that celebrates Aboriginal culture and people. Director of the Koori Curriculum, Jessica Staines has made a quick list of our top 10 books for 0-2year old’s for your convenience.
1. What do you call a baby? By Kamsani Bin Salleh
What do you call a baby...? is an entertaining way for all children to learn the nouns that describe some of our iconic Australian baby animals.
Baby frogs are called tadpoles, but what do we call a baby goanna, a baby eagle, or a baby echidna? This stunning title introduces young children to their amazing names — hatching, eaglet and puggle.
Bin Salleh's exquisite illustrations and pastel colour palette captures the tender bond of an animal 'parent and baby' and makes this little book a truly delightful journey of discovery.
2. Counting Our Country by Jill Daniels
Counting our Country is a bilingual counting book from Jill Daniels, an Indigenous artist who lives in SE Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.
Jill’s paintings of animals found on her country celebrate her distinctive style and playful use of colour. Children will love counting the animals from 1 to 10 as they turn the pages.
Each double-page spread features the name of the animal in Ritharrnu, Jill’s Aboriginal language, and in English. A guide on ‘How to pronounce the Ritharrnu animal names’ appears at the back of the book and encourages readers and young children to see if they can say them.
Counting our Country recognises the value of developing cultural literacy by introducing Indigenous language and art in the early years.
3. Going to the Footy by Debbie Coombs
In this quintessentially Australian title, Going to the Footy combines richly textured and striking illustrations of iconic Australian modes of transport, with some gentle humour.
This strikingly beautiful book for Early Childhood will captivate young children and older readers alike. The highly original artwork of Debbie Coombes in a vibrant Tiwi style, will showcase many different ways to get `to the footy'.
Whether you go to the footy in a tinny, a troopy or on a barge, this book is unforgettable.
4. The Butterfly Garden by Michael Torres
The The Butterfly Garden is an entertaining introduction to the life cycle of a butterfly - played out by a fat caterpillar, a hungry kookaburra and a supporting cast of beautiful butterflies.
Spare and simple, The Butterfly Garden also weaves in the idea of how the kookaburra may have got his laugh. Fern Martins illustrations are a mix of strong colour and transulcent beauty. Her stained-glass interpretations of the cocoon at its various stages show its ephemeral quality in a joyful and fluid way.
This feel-good board book for Early Childhood will bring a smile to all readers.Butterfly Garden by Fern Martins
5. Cheeky Animals by Shane Morgan
This little gem of a board book captures the playful antics of some of our favourite Australian animals. From a hopping kangaroo to a hilarious emu and a mischevious turtle, this rhythmical tale takes a heart warming look at cheeky animals and how they interact with an unsuspecting human.
Filled with gentle humour and complemented with bold illustrations, Cheeky Animals is one of those books that small children and adults will choose time after time.
6. In The City I See by Tori Jay Mordey
In this delightful Early Childhood board book, Tori-Jay Mordey's graphic illustrations bring the city to life in all its colourful glory.
Mordey's bold and painterly art style celebrates the pace of the cityscape whether it be her built environment of tall buildings and big signs, or her moving panorama of long buses.
With a fresh and youthful eye, Tori-Jay captures the quirky gait of walking dogs and a jittery assembly of hungry pigeons as they share the streets with happy buskers and lots of people!
In the City I See is also a gentle snapshot of how our Indigenous culture is reflected in our cities. It will become a valuable and loved addition to family book collections and libraries in rural, regional and urban areas.
A delightful picture board book dedicated to babies across Australia. Rich with the colours of the Kimberley landscape in Western Australia, the vibrant photographic images reflect Australia’s multicultural community.
This beautiful board book reflects Australia’s rich multicultural society and shows two-year-olds doing all the things they love—digging at the beach, finger painting and more. Each page is brightly coloured with funky Aussie images and lots to learn.
This beautiful board book reflects Australia’s rich multicultural society and shows two-year-olds doing all the things they love—digging at the beach, finger painting and more. Each page is brightly coloured with funky Aussie images and lots to learn.
10. My Country by Ezekiel Kwaymullina & Sally Morgan
'A beautiful celebration of our country with simple text and so much to look at in each stunning illustration. A book that should be in every home.' Good Reading
Tip: Check out our adorable range of Australian animal finger puppets to make reading fun, interactive and engaging.
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