Our Top 5 First Nations Authored/ Illustrated Children's Books Released in 2023
The end of the year is here! This makes it the perfect time for us to look back at all the great new releases that have come out this year! Here are our top 5 First Nations authored and/or illustrated titles for 2023!
Walk With Us is a stunning book inspired by the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and invites readers to find out more about the First Nations Country where they live. In light of the disappointing Referendum result in October, we think books like this, invitations to walk alongside and learn, are so important in the early childhood space.
Harvey and Mum are heading to their favourite park for a walk on Cammeraygal land. 'Time to awaken the ancestors,' says Uncle Boris. 'Every time we sing or acknowledge Country, the ancestors are listening.' What do you know about the Country where you live?
Listen, another significant title given the Referendum. Listen encourages the reader to reflect on the importance of listening and truth-telling in response to Australia's complex history. The poetic writing style creates a rich and respectful text, and the bright colours inject a sense of joy into a text that explores what is often a painful history. The use of traditional First Nations techniques reinforces the longevity and importance of a culture that has lived on Australian land for over 65,000 years. This book is a pure visual delight to behold.
We Are Matildas, by Shelley Ware, is an energetic picture book celebrating football and the team spirit of the Matildas, who we all enjoyed celebrating this year with the Women’s FIFA World Cup. If your kids were anything like mine, the Matilda’s games were the best reason ever to stay up past bedtime, and I just love that First Nations media personality, Shelley Ware, has created this wonderful book to celebrate the Matilda’s.
Bidhi Galing by Anita Heiss, is a powerful and moving story which celebrates the Wiradyuri heroes of the Great Flood of Gundagai in 1852, told through the eyes of a young girl who is rescued from the raging floodwaters by her father. Anita Heiss’s powerful text, accompanied by Samantha Campbell’s evocative illustrations, is a gift of Wiradyuri culture, knowledge and language, sharing a resonant message for our times. It is a wonderful testament to truth-telling, and sharing the untold stories of our mob.
Our final book on the list has to be Corey Tutt’s latest release, This Book Thinks Ya Deadly! This book features the profiles of 80 Blakfellas who are doing deadly things across sport, art, activism and science, through to politics, education and literature. It showcases the careers and Corey’s personal stories of First Nations People who have done great things in their respective fields. It’s one for every school library, designed to inspire all our kids and showcase some deadly mob!
