50 Best Australian Picture Books

As both a teacher and a parent I have collected picture books for many, many years. And some of the nearest and dearest to my heart have been created by a wonderful collection of very talented Australian authors and illustrators which has led me to create this huge booklist of over 50 of the best Australian picture books.

50 Best Australian Picture Books

Some are newly published, others are classics that have stood the test of time.

Some are very obviously Australian with unquestionably Australian themes, settings and characters, others are just great books by exceptional Australian authors (though I must admit a few of the authors have been adopted by Australia!)!

To help you find exactly what you are looking for, I have sorted the titles into the following sections;

• Popular Classics About Australian Animals
• Picture Books About Australian Places & Landscapes
• Picture Books About Australian History
• Books About Australian People & Lifestyles
• Just Great Books By Australian Authors

There is much to love on this list of Australian picture books, and I hope you reading these very special titles…over and over again!

As with all of the lists in our Best Books for Kids collection, each title in this list links to an Amazon and/or Book Depository page (these are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission at no cost to you) where you can find more information and reviews for titles you might not be personally familiar with.

Popular Classics About Australian Animals

 

Possum Magic by Mem Fox Grandma Poss uses her bush magic to make Hush invisible but when Hush wishes to see herself again, the two possums make their way across Australia to find the magic food that will make Hush visible once more. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Koala Lou by Mem Fox Koala Lou loves to hear her mama say, “Koala Lou, I DO love you!” But when life gets busy she misses their special connection and comes up with a plan to win back her mama’s love and hear the special words again. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Waddle Giggle Gargle! by Pamela Allen This is such a fun story about one family’s struggle with a boisterous, swooping, waddling, giggling, gargling magpie! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Wombat Stew by Marcia Vaughan A dingo catches a wombat and begins to make wombat stew but he receives some rather unusual cooking suggestions from the other bush animals, unaware that they are protecting their friend wombat. Available: The Book Depository

Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French A funny look into the daily life of a very Australian animal! The books in the wombat series are brief, humorous and very entertaining! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Josephine Wants to Dance by Jackie French Josephine loves to dance. She dreams of wearing a pink tutu and silk ballet shoes. But everyone reminds her that kangaroos don’t dance—they hop! But on the day of the ballet performance, Josephine may just be able to make her dream come true. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Too Many Pears by Jackie French Pamela the cow loves pears – and will do just about anything to get them! How will the family ever get to eat a pear again!?? Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Wombat Divine by Mem Fox Wombat has always dreamed of being in the Nativity play. Now he is old enough to audition but will their be a part for Wombat?? A fabulous addition to your Christmas book collection. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

For more fantastic books about Australia’s collection of curious creatures, check out this great list of 35 Picture Books About Australian Animals – there’s echidnas, and koalas and kangaroos – oh my!

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Picture Books About Australian Places & Landscapes

Why I Love Australia by Bronwyn Bancroft A celebration of the beautiful landscapes of Australia told through simple prose and stunning indigenous illustrations. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

My Country by Ezekiel Kwaymullina A celebration of the importance of children developing a close connection with nature, shared through the eyes of a single, indigenous child enjoying a gorgeous adventure through the natural landscape. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Welcome to Country by Aunty Joy Murphy An introduction to the traditional welcome ceremony of the people of Australia’s Yarra (Birrarung) River Valley, presented in both English and Wurundjeri language. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Are We There Yet? A Journey Around Australia by Alison Lester Join Grace and her family on a three month trip around the diverse environment of Australia. Available:  The Book Depository

Mr Chicken All Over Australia by Leigh Hobbs Mr Chicken is determined to see every corner of Australia, visiting every strangely named town and BIG sightseeing destinations. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

My Farm by Alison Lester A child’s eye view of a year on an Australian farm, a memorable year, as it’s the year the narrator receives a palomino pony. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Magic Beach by Alison Lester Combining realistic and fantasy images of a visit to an Australian beach – anything can happen at the Magic Beach! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Ella and the Ocean by Lian Tanner Ella lives in red-dirt country, where it hasn’t rained for years. She dreams of seeing the ocean, asking her family all about it but their responses are dry and unimaginative, unlike Ella’s dreams. Gran has also never seen the ocean but becomes determined to help Ella achieve her dream of seeing the sea. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

The Rainbow Serpent by Dick Roughsey A classic retelling of the Aboriginal Dreamtime Rainbow Serpent story, the tale of how the flat Earth was shaped with mountains, rivers and filled with animals. The beautiful illustrations make the story come alive. Available:  The Book Depository

Walking in Gagudju: Exploring the Monsoon Forest by Diane Lucas, Ben Tyler & Emma Long A beautiful journey through the wonders of Kakadu National Park in northern Australia. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Cooee Mittigar: A Story of Darug Songlines by Jasmine Seymour Journeying through Darug Country in New South Wales, Mulgo, the black swan, describes the land, seasons, skyscape, birds, animals and totems, with Darug language interspersed with English. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Big Rain Coming by Katrina Germein Everyone is waiting for the rain to come, as storm clouds gather over the outback. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Window by Jeannie Baker Illustrated with amazingly detailed collages, this wordless book shows the effects of people over time on our environment. With each page a boy grows and the scene outside his window changes. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

More picture books with stunning illustrations, check out our list of 30 of the Most Beautiful Picture Books Ever.

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Picture Books About Australian History

When I Was Little Like You by Mary Malbunka A beautiful tale of one indigenous Australian child’s life growing up in the early days of the Papunya settlement in central Australia, filled with details of her childhood – bush tucker and medicines, animals, the sense of family and community and the Dreaming stories. Available:  The Book Depository

Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing This book shares the indigenous perspectivel of the arrival of Europeans to Australia, using simple, repetitive language to demonstrate that Australia was not ‘Terra Nullius’ or Nobody’s Land, as named by the Europeans, but in fact it was indeed somebody’s land. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Young Dark Emu: A Truer History by Bruce Pascoe In his award-winning picture book for middle graders and YA, Bruce Pascoe shares excerpts from the diaries of early explorers and colonists to show us a truer picture of indigenous Australia at the time of colonisation, where Aboriginal people lived beyond that the label of hunter-gatherers implies, building houses, dams and wells, and farming the land. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Meet Captain Cook by Rae Murdie A picture book about Captain Cook, the first European to discover the eastern coast of Australia. Along with his crew on the HMS Endeavour, Cook set out from England to look for signs of the great southern land known as Terra Australis in 1788. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Meet Ned Kelly by Janeen Brian Meet Australia’s most infamous bush ranger in this engaging tale shared in rhyme. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

The Legend of Moondyne Joe by Mark Greenwood This is the story of the greatest escape artist of Australia’s convict era – the legend of Moondyne Joe. Joe was a scoundrel and expert bushman of early Australian convict history. He often led the troopers on wild chases through the Moondyne Hills and there wasn’t a cell built that could contain him! Available:v The Book Depository

The Happiness Box: A Wartime Book of Hope by Mark Greenwood The true story of Australian soldiers held in a prisoner of war camp in World War II who made presents for the imprisoned children. One soldier, Sergeant Griffin wrote a book called The Happiness Box. A wonderful story of inspiration. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Anzac Ted by Belinda Landsberry The powerful story of a small bear handed down from grandfather to grandchild but this is not just any bear, for Anzac Ted went to war, keeping soldiers company and giving them comfort in the darkest of times. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Anzac Girl: The Wartime Diaries of Alice Ross-King This story has come from the war diaries of Alice Ross-King, a nurse in World War II, the great grandmother of the author. It is a sad story, a reminder of the pain and suffering a war brings but it is also a story of fortitude and courage. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

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Books about Australian People & Lifestyles

All Through the Year by Jane Godwin A beautiful insight into the life of one Australian family over the course of a full year. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

An Aussie Year: Twelve Months in the Life of Australian Kids by Tania McCartney Five Australian children representing the multicultural blend of our country share their lives at play, at school and at home, and all parts of Australia. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

My Place by Nadia Wheatley This classic book depicts the history of one piece of land in Sydney from 1788 to 1988 through the stories of the various children who have lived there, teaching the reader about the history of Australian families, settlers, multiculturalism, and the traditional owners of the land. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Jetty Jumping by Andrea Rowe A magical story celebrating the joy of spending long sunny summer days with friends, and being brave to overcome one’s fears – in this case, Milla’s fear of jumping off the jetty and into the deep, dark sea. Available: The Book Depository

Landing With Wings by Trace Balla A young girl’s joyful journey of discovery of the natural world and her place in a new community, as she and her mother settle in rural Australia. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Why I Love Summer by Michael Wagner Sunny days, weekends at the pool, games in the backyard, daylight until late and long, lovely holidays – that’s summer, the best season ever! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Kick With My Left Foot by Paul Seden A cheerful, energetic story about a young boy playing Australia’s favourite game – Aussie Rules Football! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

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Mirror by Jeannie Baker This innovative picture book follows a day in the life of two boys and their families: one in the city of Sydney, Australia and one in a North African village. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

The Deep by Tim Winton The Deep is the story of Alice, a girl who is not afraid of many things but is afraid of swimming in the deep ocean water with her family, and her struggles to overcome her fear. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

There’s a Sea in my Bedroom by Margaret Wild David is afraid of the sea. Until one day he finds a conch shell at the beach and takes it home – and he hears the sea trapped inside. Available: The Book Depository

Under the Southern Cross by Frane Lessac A beautiful, unique exploration of Australia after dark. From New Year’s Eve fireworks in Sydney Harbour to Darwin’s night markets, turtle hatching in Queensland to watching the Aurora Australis in Tasmania. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

A is for Australia: A Factastic Tour by Frane Lessac Uncover fascinating facts from every corner of Australia alongside bright and colourful illustrations. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Off We Go Around Australia by Roland Harvey Including four much-loved Roland Harvey books in one – At the Beach, To the Top End, All the Way to W.A. and In the Bush, this picture book takes readers from the tip of the Top End to way out west, showing them all of the magical things to see and do across this wonderful land. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

You and Me: Our Place by Leonie Norrington A beautiful story of traditions shared between generations. Every morning Uncle Tobias goes fishing, and some days he is joined by two small children. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

The Little Refugee by Anh Do A beautiful and hope filled picture book adaptation of Ahn Do’s autobiography, The Happiest Refugee, about his family’s flight from Vietnam to Australia, and the difficulties of refugee settlement in a new country and community. Available: The Book Depository

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Just Great Books by Australian Authors

Animalia by Graeme Base An alphabet book like no other, celebrating words with an engaging story, fabulously detailed illustrations and wonderful alliteration. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

For more about author Graeme Base’s books, with related activities, click through to our Graeme Base Author Study post.

Millie, Jack and the Dancing Cat by Stephen Michael King This might be my all time favourite picture book by an Australian author. It’s about learning to love what makes you uniquely you. Available:  The Book Depository

Whatcha Building? by Andrew Daddo The old milk bar is being taken down to make way for something new and each day Little Davey stops to ask the builder if he can recycle a piece of timber. Bruce the Builder begins to imagine all the different things Davey might be building, will the secret be revealed? Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Chatterbox by Margaret Wild When will Max’s baby sister talk? No matter how much they encourage her, Daisy won’t say a word. Until one day everything changes! Available:  The Book Depository

The Runaway Hug by Nick Bland The gorgeous story of a bedtime “last hug” shared between family members. Available:  The Book Depository

Pig the Pug by Aaron Blabey This is the first in the Pig the Pug series, about a greedy and selfish pug who learns the hard (and very humorous) way that being selfish has consequences! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

Thelma the Unicorn by Aaron Blabey Thelma the pony dreams of being a unicorn but when her dream becomes a reality, life is not quite as she expected. A fabulously fun story about learning to love yourself. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland Four animal friends try all sorts of methods to cheer up a very cranky bear. We love all of the books in the Bear series by Nick Bland! Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

For more books to make kids laugh out loud, click through to see our Funny Books for Kids booklist.

The Children Who Loved Books by Peter Carnavas Angus and Lucy love books. They have hundreds of them. Then one day, all the books are taken away, and Angus and Lucy discover they need books more than they ever imagined. Available: Amazon | The Book Depository

John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat by Jenny Wagner Rose and her sheepdog, John Brown, are a happy pair until the Midnight Cat appears and jealous John Brown refuses to take it in. Available: The Book Depository