Children's books from Australia and New Zealand
Where the forest meets the sea by Jeannie Baker. Australia, 1987.
Lifelike collage illustrations capture an extraordinary visual journey through a tropical rain forest in North Queensland, Australia, following a young boy as he wonders about the survival of his primeval wilderness that is now threatened by civilization.
Who killed Cockatoo? by W.A. Cawthorne. Australia, 1989.
Adapted around 1870 from the English nursery rhyme "Who killed cock robin?", this was one of the first children's picture books to be written and published in Australia. Bold colors and stylized images of animals and Aboriginal designs familiarize children with the birds and animals of the Australian bush.
One woolly wombat by Rod Trinca and Kerry Argent. Australia, 1985.
Humorous illustrations depict fourteen Australian animals, introduced in rhyme, along with the numbers from one to fourteen.
Hating Alison Ashley by Robin Klein. Australia, 1987.
Sixth-grader Erica Yurkin has always felt superior to everyone in her school until redistricting brings beautiful, perfect and self-assured Alison Ashley to the sixth grade. Erica hates her from the very first. A series of events makes her realize that, although Alison has material things, her mother is never there for her, while Erica has the love and devotion of her family, and the two become friends.
The whale rider by Witi Ihimaera. New Zealand, 2003.
As her beloved grandfather, chief of the Maori tribe of Whangara, New Zealand, struggles to lead in difficult times and to find a male successor, young Kahu is developing a mysterious relationship with whales, particularly the ancient bull whale whose legendary rider was their ancestor.