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Oh, books – thank you for being one thing that didn’t let us down in 2020! My girls and I spent so many hours this strange year cuddled up together with picture books, their words and images either soothing us or giving us much-needed laughter. While the world was wild all around us, we always had the book-reading spot on the sofa for comfort. In fact, we were downright spoiled by our Australian picture books creators this year.
This is my third annual list of “Gorgeous Australian Picture Books.” In 2018, I listed 20. Last year, I could not narrow it down to fewer than 25. That seemed like a good number to stick with; but I honestly could have written this least at least twice over this year. I am earnestly sad about some of the ones I have left off! So, you can be sure that every book on this list has touched me deeply, and I would consider all of them books that you can treasure in your home library or be proud to give as a gift.
Now, in no particular order, 25 gorgeous – I mean GORGEOUS – Australian picture books from 2020.
Howl
by Kat Patrick, illustrated by Evie Barrow
When I think of 2020, Howl might be one of the strongest images in my mind. Little Maggie is having a terrible day – nothing is going her way. It seems like the rest of the family is feeling it, too, especially as restlessness sinks in with the full moon. Maggie is drawn outdoors, and with a wild and mystical connection, so is her mother. The two become wolfish and cathartically hooooowl at the moon. Evie Barrow’s illustrations on Kat Patrick’s tale are magical – you really don’t get more beautiful than this. Howl is a recognition of a primal nature that we’d do well to sometimes embrace, rather than ignore, and also the divine connection between mothers and daughters. I dare say that most of us needed to do some howling this year. (Scribble)
Windows
by Patrick Guest, illustrated by Jonathan Bentley
On the topic of books that mark the year that was 2020, Windows takes the Covid-19 crisis head on, from the perspective of children. Kids stuck inside peer out their windows at newly quiet streets. They watch the clouds, but looking closer they can see friends and acts of kindness, like teddy bears and rainbows in windows and a neighbor playing the flute. I think we all know how much those small acts of community meant this year. It’s not all happy – the kids have fears and uncertainty, too. And, at last, outside their windows are the grandparents they long to hug, but simply wave to in order to keep each other safe. Windows manages to strike such a delicate balance between being optimistic, without sappiness. It captures the deep emotions of this year, both in its careful verse and beautifully detailed images. 2020 is a year we will never forget, and this book would be a perfect memento for children to keep as a reminder of this moment in history. (Hardie Grant)
When We Say Black Lives Matter
by Maxine Beneba Clarke
Perhaps your kids heard the phrase “Black Lives Matter” this year on the news or in conversation. How do you explain what it means? Of course Black lives matter, but why do we need to say it? Maxine Beneba Clarke (who is a national treasure, in my estimation), has written and illustrated an answer to what it means when we say Black Lives Matter. Equally important are the sounds of a djembe and the howl of a jazz trumpet AND the fact that “terrible things were said and done.” Beneba Clarke says, “I was inspired to write and create it when thinking about how to explain the concept of Black Lives Matter to the young African diaspora kids in my extended family…“. This book is a gift for Black kids. As the parent of white children, I am grateful that we may share it, as well – both for its beauty, and for language to build on a proactive conversation about why we say “Black lives matter.” Non-black children don’t have access to understanding why the experience of Black lives might be any different to theirs unless we start to talk about it at home and in our schools and childcare facilities. This book tells the truth about Black lives. Read it together so that you can tell it to your children. (Hatchette)
Ribbit Rabbit Robot
by Victoria Mackinlay, illustrated by Sofya Karmazina
And now, for something completely different! A frog, a rabbit, and a robot unleash a genie from a magic lamp, but who will get their wish? This is one of the most clever uses of language I’ve seen – we’ve gotten such a kick out of the way this story is told almost entirely by words that sound like ribbit/rabbit/robot. It’s also an amazing book for practicing visual literacy. You need to spend some time on the pictures to follow the story, and there are also so many fun details to pick up as you read it again. Best of all, the moral of the story is that kindness wins out in the end. (We received a review copy of Ribbit Rabbit Robot from Scholastic Australia)
Sometimes Cake
by Edwina Wyatt, illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie
If my 3 year old had a Book of the Year award to present, the winner would be Sometimes Cake. Audrey is a little girl whose best friend is Lion. They celebrate Tuesdays. And coconuts. And orange. Even when it seems like there’s nothing to celebrate, there’s always ordinary days. And lions. This book feels timeless, from its gentle story to the divine illustrations that capture the most precious details of childhood (the 3 year old Sometimes Cake fan took to wearing mismatched socks, thanks to Audrey’s most wonderful outfits). This is one of those books that you want to hug tightly because it is so special. And, it gives us all an excuse to eat cake whenever there is something to celebrate – which is almost always. (We received a review copy of Sometimes Cake from Walker Books)
I’ll Always Be Older Than You
by Jane Godwin, illustrated by Sara Acton
My girls are 4 years apart, and it has not always been easy for big sister to know what to do with a baby/toddler. The one thing that she loves the most is when she can show her little sister how something is done, help her with a task, or read her a book. So, I’ll Always Be Older Than You really charmed me. A big sister tells her baby brother all of the things he’ll learn from her, as they grow up. She has a lot of plans to be helpful (in some instances, more “helpful” than others, which will give the grown ups a smile). Just like my kids, they’re 4 years apart, and big sister has done the math on how much older she’ll always be than him. So, she’ll always be there to help. For any of the big siblings or big-siblings to-be in your life, this book would be a perfect gift to help them see what an important job only they can do. (Hardie Grant)
This Small Blue Dot
by Zeno Sworder
Similarly themed to I’ll Always Be Older Than You, but stylistically completely different, The Small Blue Dot also centers on guidance from a big sister to baby sibling. This charming sister already knows a lot about the world, and she’s sharing it with the new baby. From silly dances to the best desserts to the need to take care of the Earth we share, this book is full of the thing things that children particularly notice and know. There’s no one better to remind us of what’s really important (and that the silly stuff is important!) than a kid. Another amazing gift book for a big sibling – or anyone who delights in life’s little joys! (Thames & Hudson Australia)
Small Town
by Phillip Gwynne, illustrated by Tony Flowers
Want to stand in the middle of a bookshop and cry happy tears? Pick up Small Town (at least that’s what happened to me when I read it). Milly lives in Gong Gong, “a town so nice, they named it twice.” She loves her town, but the residents keep leaving for opportunities elsewhere. Soon, there won’t even be enough kids for sports! When she learns about refugees at school, she gets to work on her idea to bring them to Gong Gong. It seems so easy to her – they need a home, and her town has a lot of homes available, plus plenty of work, if you just look around. Her plan faces some resistance, but the new residents are a boon to Gong Gong, bringing new life to this small town. (Penguin)
Finding Our Heart
by Thomas Mayor, illustrated by Blak Douglas
Finding Our Heart explores the history behind, writing and intention of the Uluru Statement From the Heart in language that children can understand. Blak Mayor’s illustrations are marvelous. This is a great classroom or family collection resource. Read our fuller review of Finding Our Heart here . (Hardie Grant)
Azaria
by Maree Coote
A stunning book with the most unlikely subject. My initial thought, maybe yours, too – “how can they possibly make a picture book about Azaria Chamerlain?!”. I stand humbled by the power of an artist to make a thing of beauty from the ashes of something so profoundly sad and shameful. Maree Coote tells the story of baby Azaria Chamberlain, who was abducted by wild dingoes, and her mother Lindy, who was wrongfully convicted of her death. Coote focuses on the places where we made mistakes, without an accusatory tone, but more the sense that we can learn to be better. People made the error of thinking of dingoes as dogs, rather than wild animals. We turned on the mother with gossip and mistrust. We didn’t listen to the Aboriginal trackers who knew the dingoes were capable of taking a baby. Experts were wrong. Coote says of the dingoes, “they are just animals behaving like animals.” And, of the people who got it wrong, “They are just people, behaving like people.” Every spread in this book is worth poring your eyes and heart over. And the story, told so sensitively, takes us beyond the headlines and into our own humanity. (Walker Books)
I Saw Pete and Pete Saw Me
by Maggie Hutchings, illustrated by Evie Barrow
“When you are small you notice things that grown-ups are too busy to see.” From his perspective, this sweet little boy notices Pete, a man experiencing homelessness. Most people walk past, but he and Pete make fast friends. He starts to see the other people in the community who care about Pete, as well. And, he worries about his friend when the weather is bad, and when Pete begins to fall ill. We’re left with an ambiguous, hopeful ending. One thing is clear – Pete will always be in this little boy’s heart. I came away thinking that this encounter will shape this boy’s entire life, as he remembers his friend Pete, and tries to see and care for things that others miss. We should all be so lucky to be small and notice things. $1 from the sale of each book will be donated to The Big Issue. (Affirm Press)
Finding Fransçois
by Gus Gordon
Did you ever dream of finding a message in a bottle? What kid hasn’t?
Alice lives with her grandmother, and they make a very good team, but sometimes she wishes for a friend her own size. So, she casts her wish out to sea via a greeting in a bottle. As if with a touch of magic, it reaches François, who lives alone on an island with his father. They become fast pen pals, charmed by their commonalities and differences. When something very sad happens to Alice, it is returning to her friend François that helps her start over again. Finding François became a fast favorite here, with its carefully earned big feelings, its delicious illustrations (a French feast), and the magic of friendship. To borrow from Alice’s grandmother, we think this book is “a marvel.” (Penguin)
Bear in Space
by Deborah Abela, illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall
We have all known that child who struggles to fit in. The one whose interests are a little too intense for the other kids or who can’t quite find their way into a social group. Bear is that kid. The other bears don’t understand him or his big love of space. So, he builds a rocket ship where he can be alone with his space books. Eventually, it’s his rocket that draws friends his way. I love that it is his uniqueness that ends up being his in to genuine friendship – no need to change who he is. This book is for all the kids who don’t fit in, just yet, and for all the kids who might find a great new friend sitting quietly outside the group with a stack of space books and a marvelous imagination. (We received a review copy of Bear in Space from Walker Books)
How to Make a Bird
by Meg McKinlay, illustrated by Matt Ottley
How to Make a Bird uses the process of “making a bird” as a metaphor for the creative process. From “a lot of very tiny bones,” to adding feathers “for warmth and for flight,” to a “sure, steady heart,” and finally casting it “gently upon the air,” each step is carefully and poetically described. Anyone who has ever made a work of art, music, dance, theatre, or writing, and put it into the world will understand the process. It is delicate, methodical, plodding, beautiful, idiosyncratic, heartbreaking, soul-filling, and bigger than just one creator (or one bird). There is so much thought and emotion on every single page of this book. McKinlay’s text contains a thousand feelings in just a few words. Ottley’s illustrations are so rich with their use of scale and shadow, gentle in their colour palette, drawing you into this intimate experience. (We received a review copy of How to Make a Bird from Walker Books)
By the Billabong
by Maura Finn, illustrated by Cate James
Some picture books are particularly fun to read aloud, and By the Billabong may just be my favorite for this on the 2020 list. Celebrating our wonderfully unique Australian animals, this story follows a girl who “went for a walk by the billabong to see what I could see.” At each turn she finds something fun like “a passel of possums drinking tea” or a “wisdom of wombats on parade“. The illustrations are gentle, with a lot of fun little surprises. For something delightfully Aussie, By the Billabong is a storytime gem. (Affirm)
There Is No Magic in This Book
by Michelle Macwhirter, illustrated by Sophie Beer
Not a year goes by without a Sophie Beer illustrated book on this list, and this one might be the most wonderfully whimsical, yet. “If you’re looking for magic, you have opened the wrong book…” – so begins the tour through a castle with NO magic… aside from the mermaids, and witches, and genies, and unicorns, and cello-playing octopuses, and a few hundred more tricky little exceptions. It’s almost an I-Spy to see how many delightful magical details you can spot on each page, while the Bookkeeper says there’s none to be found. My kids howl with delight at every detail they pick out. Every page is a bright, surprising (and, yes, MAGICAL) joy to explore. (We received a review copy of There Is No Magic In This Book from Walker Books)
Our Home, Our Heartbeat
by Adam Briggs, illustrated by Kate Moon & Rachel Sarra
Adam Briggs’ 2015 “The Children Came Back” is a musical response to Archie Roach’s 1990 song, “Took the Children Away,” a narrative about his experience as a child of the Stolen Generation. Briggs’ song is a celebration of the accomplishments of Aboriginal Australians as the heartbeat of this country. Watch the brilliant video here (Warning: Contain images and voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons who may now be deceased). Our Home, Our Heartbeat uses and expands upon “The Children Came Back,” to show us 20 Aboriginal & Torres Strait athletes, musicians, and activists who have made a huge impact on Australia. Each person named is also given a short biography in the back of the book, so you can read about all of their accomplishments. This is such an important, uplifting, Own Voices book for every Australian child. (Hardie Grant)
I would also note that a picture book version of Took the Children Away (Simon & Schuster) featuring illustrations’ by Archie Roach’s late wife Ruby Hunter, was also released this year in commemoration of the song’s 30th anniversary. These books would be excellent to pair.
Bin Chicken
by Kate and Jol Temple, illustrated by Ronojoy Ghosh
Skulking around city parks, stealing sandwiches, and shamelessly poking their strangely long beaks in the rubbish, the Australian ibis has well and truly earned its nickname – “bin chicken.” Cousins to a sacred Egyptian bird, the modern Aussie ibis doesn’t get nearly as much respect as its relative. In Bin Chicken, we see that the other birds around town think that her garbage habit is making respectable avian look bad (not to mention the smell). But, Bin Chicken isn’t bothered. She’s found treasure in trash, and has adapted to make the city her happy nest. Bin Chicken might just be the hero we needed for 2020: Sure, things used to be better for ibises, but with that beak, they can teach us a thing or two about social distancing, they’ll toss together a home office from (literal) scraps while homeschooling the kids, and most of all, as the book says, they are SURVIVORS. Bin Chicken brings the laughs and a newfound respect for that ubiquitous dumpster diver. (Scholastic Australia)
How to Be a Real Ballerina
by Davina Bell, illustrated by Jenny Lǿvlie
Do you have a tiny dancer in your life? I do, and she is getting How to Be a Real Ballerina for Christmas. Aspiring little ballerinas know what professional dancers look like, but how do they get there? The little girl in this book has it all figured out. You do go to a class. You don’t wear your leotard for swimming. You do start with first position. You don’t act like a robot when the teacher says, “straight legs.” This adorable dancer has a lot to share, including the special moment when it all comes together and you feel like a “real” ballerina. (As a side note: Earlier this year, I spent quite a bit of time looking for a picture book featuring a Black ballerina for our collection, but I could not find an Australian one – until now). (Hardie Grant)
Hello Jimmy
by Anna Walker
In a post-divorce split household, little Jack and his dad don’t communicate well. Dad is trying, but he is quiet and sad, and they don’t have much to talk about. In flies Jimmy, a parrot with a big personality. Dad is charmed. Jack, not so much. He feels like Jimmy now gets all of Dad’s positive attention. When Jimmy disappears, Jack feels guilty, but it turns out the be the chance at a new start with Dad. I love this book because it tells the truth about family dynamics. Even in very loving families, things can go astray, and little feelings are easily hurt and confused. Anna Walker always imbues so much detail and unspoken sentiment in her illustrations, so while the bird may be the loudest character in the book, there is no shortage of honest emotion. (Penguin Australia)
The Lost Library
by Jess McGeachin
Have you ever thought that libraries might be magical, with all the stories and information just ready for the discovering? Oliver is book-lover lonely in his new home. He discovers a mysterious library book that needs to be returned. When he and his new friend Rosie send it down the return chute, they are transported into an amazing adventure. Rosie loves it, but Oliver isn’t quite so sure. Their ability to make it out is a testament to friendship and reading. Each page is a beautifully illustrated scene, with some sneaky surprises. If libraries are your happy place, this book will speak to your soul. (Penguin Australia)
Who Am I?
by Philip Bunting
In our view, Philip Bunting can do no wrong. His books, with their quirk, inviting illustrations, and never-preachy wisdom have brought many, many smiles to my kids and me. This prolific genius released absolutely oodles of new books this year, and I found it hard to choose just one for this list. The Wonderful Wisdom of Ants, Not Cute, and Your Planet Needs You, could have all made this list (I haven’t even had the chance to look at the new Give Me Some Space before publishing this!). But, there’s something extra special about Who Am I?. How do you define who you are? Are you your name, your stuff, your gender, your bones? These things may be a part of you, but they are not what makes you you. Bunting goes through a range of components before finally settling on a definition of that “thing” that really makes each one of us unique individuals. This is a marvelous book for kids who are full of big questions. (Scholastic Australia)
My Shadow is Pink
by Scott Stuart
Just yesterday, a friend was telling me about Christmas shopping for her pre-school aged nephew who loves unicorns. His dad won’t let him own any because he’s a boy. We may have come a long way in society towards embracing diversity, but stories like this remind me of how far we still have to go. My Shadow is Pink is about a little boy who loves “princesses, and fairies, and things ‘not for boys,'” (according to his dad). His shadow is pink. His dad’s shadow is blue. When he wears a dress to school, he doesn’t get a good reaction from the other kids. It takes this incident for his dad to realize that everyone has a different type of “shadow,” and even though it’s not the same as his, his son shouldn’t hide his. “It’s not just your shadow, it’s your inner-most you.” This story of being who you are is sensitively told, with a generous heart. (Larrikin House)
The Biscuit Maker
by Sue Lawson, illustrated by Liz Anneli
There are many reasons why we don’t connect with our neighbors in the same way that people once did. Busy lives, electronic communication, differing political opinions, thinking we won’t have much in common, or just that we’ve fallen out of the habit. Behind our neighbor’s doors, many lives are going on – some bustling, some lonely. Benedict Stanley and his cat watch the residents of his neighborhood go by, though none ever stop for a hello. He starts making and secretly delivering beautiful biscuits for all of the special events in the lives of the people on his street. They have no idea who the biscuit maker is, but the delight of his surprises gets the neighbors talking. When Benedict falls ill, one small neighbor steps in, and the whole community comes together in the spirit of friendship and breaking bread together. Bring the tissues for the beautiful last page of this one! (Walker Books)
Good Question
by Sue Whiting, illustrated by Annie White
My kids would not forgive me if I’d left Good Question off this list! As I mentioned, there are a few years between my girls, so the books that delight them equally are few are far between. This is one of those rare gems. A cheeky fox is stuck up in a tree. You might wonder how he got there. That’s a good question! We begin to trace the story backwards, as the fox makes rather unwelcome appearances in a number of fairytales. My older daughter loved picking out what each fairy tale was, and they both found the fox, who speaks directly to the reader, a hilarious rascal. Good Question was our 2020 crowd-pleaser, receiving many repeat (and sometimes interpretive) readings here. (We received a review copy of Good Question from Walker Books)
I consider us so lucky to live in a country with such an exceptional picture book industry. Have you had any favorites this year? I try to share a steady stream of picture books (and some chapter books, as well), here on the blog, and over on Instagram. I hope you’ll join me in 2021 for more marvelous bookish and artsy goodness!
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