Read Around the World:
Children’s Books Set in Australia and Oceania
by Janssen Bradshaw
You don’t have to travel all the way to Australia and the rest of Oceania to experience the beauty and cultures found on this continent in the Southern Hemisphere. The lesser-known continent of Oceania encompasses Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and many other amazing islands. Dive into the habitat, landmarks, and indigenous culture with your kids through these suggested picture books, early readers, and middle grade books. There is something for everyone on this book list!
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Picture Books
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Wombat Walkabout
Six wombats head out for a walk in the warm outback. They enjoy seeing the other wildlife of the outback but avoid their most fearsome predator — the dingo! Full of luscious illustrations and clever rhyming verse, this book is a sure winner for your little one.
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Once Upon a Time…There Was a Thirsty Frog
Learn about the importance of sharing with this delightful book that shares the Aboriginal Australian myth about Tiddalik, the thirsty frog. Tiddalik is so thirsty that he drinks all of the water in the land, leaving nothing for the other animals! Will he learn to share? This inspiring book helps teach emotional intelligence and the dangers of being selfish.
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Wombat
Available from:Learn about the incredible wombat — a rarely discussed animal. Did you know wombats can live for years without drinking water? This book is filled with facts and illustrations to keep your eyes and mind engaged.
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Where's the Kangaroo?
Available from:Little hands love lift-the-flap books but can destroy them in minutes. Where’s the Kangaroo? has brightly colored, soft felt flaps that allow little ones to lift and lower as many times as they like without damaging the book. Find a series of Australian animals behind these shaped flaps!
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Eco Baby Where Are You Koala?
Available from:Help find a baby koala in the land Down Under in this touch-and-feel book! Along the way, discover other Australian animals such as wombats, kangaroos, and crocodiles.
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Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas
World-renowned swimmer and bestselling author Lynne Cox and Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator Brian Floca teamed up to create this beautiful children's book based on a real-life elephant seal named Elizabeth. Elizabeth's home is in the Avon River in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, but when she ends up sunning on a road, a group of volunteers are worried and help bring her out to sea. But Elizabeth knows where she belongs and makes her way back to her beloved river. This informative picture book also teaches kids about elephant seals!
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Pouch!
Available from:Caldecott winner David Ezra Stein’s adorable board book is a must-read for anyone interested in Australia. Baby Kangaroo wants to try new things outside of Mama’s pouch. First hops, first time exploring, first time out of Mama’s reach. How will Baby Kangaroo do?
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Good Night Australia
Available from:Australia is a big country and continent with many places to explore. There’s so much to see, from the wild outback to the cultural attractions. Lull your child to sleep while learning about this beautiful place in this adorable board book.
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Early Readers & Chapter Books
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Under the Southern Cross
Available from:Wind down at bedtime with this wonderful nighttime-focused picture book set in Australia. The lively illustrations enable you to discover the country’s nocturnal animals. They flit through a sky filled with dancing stars with a brightly lit city in the background.
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Emu
Available from:An emu is a fascinating bird, but one characteristic that sticks out from the rest is the daddy’s protective nature toward their unhatched eggs. Watch a daddy emu guard his gray-green eggs until they hatch and then protect his baby emus throughout their childhoods.
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Mirror
Available from:In this beautifully illustrated book, you will find two families who appear to have different ways of life. One family in Sydney, Australia and another in a Northern African village go through their daily activities. As readers watch and compare the two families’ routines, their similarities become apparent, and differences fade.
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Birrarung Wilam: A Story from Aboriginal Australia
Available from:Get in touch with Australia’s nature through this book. It focuses on Melbourne’s Yarra River and its indigenous people. Learn about the peoples' history and the river’s geographical story with vibrant pictures and poetic writing.
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Middle Grade
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The Race to Kangaroo Cliff
The crew from the School Ship Tobermory series and their adventures conclude with this third installment. Ben, Fee, and their friends head to Australia on the Tobermory to participate in a ship race. However, with people to rescue and a lost dog to find, they might never make it to their destination. Hop aboard!
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Welcome to New Zealand: A Nature Journal
Available from:Inspired by her own home of New Zealand, author and illustrator Sandra Morris encourages kids to explore the wonders in their own backyard! This nature journal helps budding lovers of the great outdoors to discover and record what they find amongst their own local flora and fauna.
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Sand Swimmers
Available from:The Dead Heart desert lies smack dab in the middle of Australia. A desolate and lonely place, few people will travel to Dead Heart, yet it contains many wonderful survival stories. Follow the adventures of the earliest explorers and indigenous people with this spellbinding nonfiction book for kids.
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Where Is the Great Barrier Reef?
Available from:Do you have an ocean lover in your house? In this installment of Where Is?, kids can discover the largest coral reef in the world. Located off the Australian coast, the Great Barrier Reef is incredible, electrifying, and has much to offer curious young readers.
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