The following books are all available through the Penrith City Library and clicking on the book title will take you to the item in the catalogue. Why not search the catalogue to locate more great books in our junior collection about Indigenous stories.
Read & Research
Kookoo Kookaburra, by Gregg Dreise. (2014). Magabala Books.
Kookoo is a kind kookaburra, who is loved by the other bush animals for his funny stories. But when Kookoo runs out of funny stories he starts teasing his friends. Kookoo must remember the advice of his wise uncle. Suitable for pre-schoolers and lower primary.
The Naked Boy and the Crocodile, edited by Andy Griffiths. (2011). Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
Includes thirteen stories written and illustrated by Indigenous children from remote communities around Australia. Stories are a mix of fiction and the children’s real-life experiences, some are dramatic, some funny, and some depict everyday activities. Suitable for lower primary.
Wombat, Mudlark & Other Stories, by Helen Milroy. (2019). Freemantle Press.
This book features eight animal adventures in which elements of nature, like rocks and the moon are animate and full of character. The stories are told in the style of traditional myths or teaching stories and encourage self-discovery and strength. Suitable for 7-8 year olds.
Young Dark Emu, A Truer History, by Bruce Pascoe. (2019). Magabala Books.
Bruce Pascoe has adapted his research from his acclaimed book Dark Emu, for a younger audience. Young Dark Emu describes how pre-colonial Aboriginal Australians managed the land and argues against the hunter-gatherer label. Suitable for 10 years and up.
Book descriptions have been written with reference to synopses provided on publisher websites, references can be viewed here.
Britannica Kids – This is a great resource for primary school kids who want to get started on their own research! The site contains a number of useful articles, images and videos on Indigenous Australia.
Watch and Play
Jarjums is dedicated children’s programming by National Indigenous Television (NITV), and provides educational and entertaining content for preschoolers and above. Jarjums features Indigenous and First Nations content from Australia and around the world.
This digital learning tool aims to connect teachers and students with stories and knowledge from Indigenous Australians. Use the Free Resources tab to access games, story-times and activities for kids of different ages from Kindergarten to Year 4.
Behind the News – Indigenous Culture
Behind the News is a news program aimed at 10-13 year old children and explains news and contemporary stories and issues in a fun, creative and age-appropriate way. This Indigenous Culture page contains a range of diverse and important stories about Indigenous Australians.