Ride a Wild Pony - Disney movie (1975) about a boy in the outback.
Fabulous Youtube videos tracking the life of two baby joeys: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqO-OQ3Ec1Q
Here are some of our favorite picture books: *Big Rain Coming (beautiful artwork, story about the aborigines) *Stories from the Billabong (beautiful illustrations - showcasing early aboriginal pointillism, some of the content of the stories was a big violent and definitely centered on their mythology.) *Are We There Yet? (A book following a family traveling around Australia hitting the best places. My boys LOVED this book.)
There is a great paper collage picture book by Jeannie Baker called "Mirror" -- which is a great transition book from Africa to Australia. The book is designed to compare and contrast the daily lives of two families -- one in Morocco and one in Australia. beautiful artwork! Will inspire you to get the paper and glue!
We are enjoying the the Australian book series: "Audrey in the Outback" and "Tashi."
Ditto all of Heather's picks, too -- we read/watched them and loved them all. My littlest ones pretended to be kangaroos for two days after watching the joey videos!
We just finished another great book -- what I call a 'double-book" -- because the author's notes at the end of the story are just as interesting as the story itself. The book is called "Jirrbal" and is by Maisie (Yarrcali) Barlow. Maisie is an elder of the Jirrbal people and she has recorded six of their traditional stories. Through her story collection, you will learn why there is dew at night during the new moon (a story of rewarding kindness), how the birds got their colors and how Australia got its rivers and lakes (two tales on sharing), a fishing story (about obeying your parents), etc. There is a dictionary of Jirrbal to English words on the back pages. And then there are several true stories about Masie's childhood-- describing her life growing up as a black Jirrbal girl in the 1920s -- gently contrasting it to the life of the white adult farmers nearby. She talks about: - only gathering the food they needed for the day -- so that it was fresh and never wasted. - collecting water in tins from the creek -- her tin house with a grass bed -- her childhood chores and pets -- a family trip to Tully -- her work at a cattle station -- not being able to attend school (for white children only) but then getting a chance to learn to read and write later when she goes to work for a white mother who home schools her children and invites her to learn with them. As she shares these stories, she weaves in lessons about hard work, rewarding honesty, honoring your parents and grandparents, and unselfishness. I like that it gave my children examples of a real child their age making good choices. It's very encouraging and gave much to discuss about: myths vs. truth, discrimination, poverty,and the virtues of stewardship, inquisitive, perseverance and honesty.
4 comments:
Three boys - 6,4,3
Ride a Wild Pony - Disney movie (1975) about a boy in the outback.
Fabulous Youtube videos tracking the life of two baby joeys: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqO-OQ3Ec1Q
Here are some of our favorite picture books:
*Big Rain Coming (beautiful artwork, story about the aborigines)
*Stories from the Billabong (beautiful illustrations - showcasing early aboriginal pointillism, some of the content of the stories was a big violent and definitely centered on their mythology.)
*Are We There Yet? (A book following a family traveling around Australia hitting the best places. My boys LOVED this book.)
Other picture books we liked:
*Waking up Down Under
*Wombat Goes on Walkabout
*The Biggest Frog in Australia
Boys - 9 & 6, Girls -- 4 & 8
There is a great paper collage picture book by Jeannie Baker called "Mirror" -- which is a great transition book from Africa to Australia. The book is designed to compare and contrast the daily lives of two families -- one in Morocco and one in Australia. beautiful artwork! Will inspire you to get the paper and glue!
We are enjoying the the Australian book series:
"Audrey in the Outback" and "Tashi."
Ditto all of Heather's picks, too -- we read/watched them and loved them all. My littlest ones pretended to be kangaroos for two days after watching the joey videos!
Boys - 9 & 6, Girls - 8 & 4
We just finished another great book -- what I call a 'double-book" -- because the author's notes at the end of the story are just as interesting as the story itself.
The book is called "Jirrbal" and is by Maisie (Yarrcali) Barlow.
Maisie is an elder of the Jirrbal people and she has recorded six of their traditional stories.
Through her story collection, you will learn why there is dew at night during the new moon (a story of rewarding kindness), how the birds got their colors and how Australia got its rivers and lakes (two tales on sharing), a fishing story (about obeying your parents), etc.
There is a dictionary of Jirrbal to English words on the back pages.
And then there are several true stories about Masie's childhood-- describing her life growing up as a black Jirrbal girl in the 1920s -- gently contrasting it to the life of the white adult farmers nearby.
She talks about:
- only gathering the food they needed for the day -- so that it was fresh and never wasted.
- collecting water in tins from the creek
-- her tin house with a grass bed
-- her childhood chores and pets
-- a family trip to Tully
-- her work at a cattle station
-- not being able to attend school (for white children only) but then getting a chance to learn to read and write later when she goes to work for a white mother who home schools her children and invites her to learn with them.
As she shares these stories, she weaves in lessons about hard work, rewarding honesty, honoring your parents and grandparents, and unselfishness.
I like that it gave my children examples of a real child their age making good choices. It's very encouraging and gave much to discuss about:
myths vs. truth, discrimination, poverty,and the virtues of stewardship, inquisitive, perseverance and honesty.
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