Cirrus@Austlit

'Getting Dusty is the much anticipated sequel to Jared Thomas' CBCA longlisted junior fiction Uncle Xbox (2023).

'When Dusty bloodies his bully's nose in a soccer tournament, he finds himself grounded for a week. Feeling this is unfair, Dusty gets upset and it's up to Uncle Xbox to help him understand why his actions have consequences and that he can learn from his mistakes. If this lesson includes catching some nice waves, who is he to argue. From the author of The Game Day series, My Spare Heart, Calypso Summer, and Songs that sound like Blood, Jared Thomas has sensitively captured Dusty's world and childhood challenges, with integrity, humour and heart.' (Publication summary)

'‘You gonna sell your soul for a fist full of diamonds?’

'First Nations heritage, a family curse and ghosts at the dinner table. David’s been keeping a safe distance from all these things but now work is calling him home. To make things worse, he’s approving a new mine site, on his own Sacred Ground. This is all a secret from the rest of his family, who think he’s come home for the anniversary of his Dad’s death.

'Kangaroo Stew will give you an insight into the life of a modern Aboriginal family. There will be love, punch ups, Creedence Clearwater Revival (Uncle Foggerty!) and of course, the spirits of ancestors past.

'Written by Martu/Yamatji/Murri writer Zac James (Ice Land: A Hip H’Opera), this is a story about family and love, grief and Culture, Native Title and the ghosts of our relatives. This is Kangaroo Stew!' (Publication summary)

'Tarah’s dad has gone away, and she doesn’t know where. She imagines he is doing all the things he loves, but when she asks her mum, everything changes. This heartfelt, honest and sensitively told story explores the challenges a child faces when a parent is incarcerated. My Dad’s Gone Away sheds light on an unspoken issue and gently encourages children and families to talk about how they feel and what their future may look like. This age-appropriate story will help to encourage safe conversations around a difficult topic and promote empathy in children with different life experiences. My Dad’s Gone Away is written through a child’s perspective and is illustrated with care and complemented by soft warm tones. Paul Seden’s evocative and timeless imagery underpin a powerful story and captures the heartache of dealing with missing a parent.' (Publication summary)

'Tales from the Bush Mob is a series of books about the Bush Mob, a group of animals who work together to solve problems. Each book shares a rich landscape of characters and places, including Dingo, Willy-willy Wagtail, Eagle, Platypus, Koala, Wombat, Kookaburra, Echidna and Kangaroo. These stories emphasise the value of respect for First Nations culture and country, as well as the importance of courage, perseverance and wisdom to bind communities together.

'In this fifth book, you will meet Molly Mole and Old Croc who strike up an unlikely friendship. Molly Mole is allergic to dust and Old Croc is afraid of the dark, but when they join forces they discover they are stronger together. When one of their plans has unintended consequences it’s up to the Bush Mob to help make things right.

'Filled with gorgeous illustrations of Australian animals and exciting tales, this will be a popular book for the whole family.'  (Publication summary)

Lethal Lizards is the second book in Gregg Dreise’s ‘Scales and Tails’ series and is a captivating creation story about believing in yourself and standing up to bullies.

'In this colourful adventure, join sand and tree goannas, blue-tongue lizards, and frill-necked lizards as they learn to believe in themselves and overcome their fears thanks to the help of the great creator, Biamme.

'With its uplifting message of resilience, Lethal Lizards teaches children to embrace their unique strengths and face challenges head-on.' (Publication summary)

'‘With our grandmother we walk all the way to the peak of the mountain. Cold wind blows through our hair.

'‘Yah Melaythenner, Peulinghenar,‘ Grandmother calls. Hello Country. Greetings.

'We hear whispering and we listen with all our ears.’

'An ancient story of creation that describes two Ancestral Beings who came down from the Milky Way to create the Trouwerner (Tasmanian) landscape.

'Using some traditional language, this extraordinary children’s picture book, filled with stunning illustrations, retells a captivating Ancestral memory dating back to the Ice Age — a period of time when Trouwerner was joined to the Australian mainland. Join Aunty Patsy Cameron as she generously shares the creation story of Trouwerner Country and its people.' (Publication summary)

'‘When I stayed out bush I sat with my grandmother and watched her paint. I used to get boxes and paint on. She painted with ochres and glue. Later she showed me how to make the marawat (hair) brush to do the fine line work.’ ― KGM

'An artistically stunning story of Kylie Gatjawarrawuy Mununggurr’s life growing up on her grandmothers Country in Raymangirr, a remote Yolŋu homeland in North East Arnhem Land in the Top End of Australia.

'Told in both Djambarrpuyŋuand and English, Raymaŋgirrbuy dhäwu, When I was a little girl is a sweet story of the author’s experiences with her grandmother and her community. From learning to grind ochre and paint, to hunting for bush honey (guku), ceremonial dances, and full-moon night fishing with a big shark, each vignette of Kylie’s life is filled with humour and nostalgia for her peaceful childhood.

'Developed with the support of Gapuwiyak Culture and Arts centre and Kylie’s mother and grandmother, young readers will experience life in Raymaŋgirr country and gain important insights into cultural practices.' (Publication summary)

'‘in ember and ash / the heart of the Noongar Nation beats buried...’

'Refugia is an unparalleled work of vision and political fury from Noongar and Yawuru poet and scholar Elfie Shiosaki. Inspired by the beeliar (Swan River) and the NASA James Webb Space Telescope’s first year of science, this collection draws on colonial archives to contest the occupation of Noongar Country.

'As the bicentennial year of the colony of Western Australia approaches, Shiosaki looks to the stars and back to the earth to make sense of memory and the afterlife of imperial violence.' (Publication summary)

'Is that you? by Gregg Dreise is a board book that encourages young readers to learn new verbs and adverbs: frogs bop, snakes slide, lizards hide, Tasmanian devils growl...can you make a low roar?

'Filled with adorable and distinctive illustrations from the creator of the ‘Silly Birds’ series, this story is a great book for beginners and sits beautifully alongside Gregg’s other board book Where’s my baby? (2023).' (Publication summary)

'‘I can count to ten! Can you count to ten with me?’

'Another testament to Sally Morgan’s advocacy for early literacy learning, I Can Count is a fun and interactive way for families and young readers to learn to count together. With a soaring sun, coral clouds, purple frogs, pink snakes, lime birds, blue dragonflies, peach butterflies, yellow possums, orange owls and green stars this is a visual feast for young eyes. Jingalu’s unique artwork is quirky, contemporary and vibrant ― emphasising fun in learning.

'The perfect gift for young children, this book will be an absolute joy to share over and over again.' (Publication summary)

'‘Each protest has been a stepping stone to the next battle...’

'From the very first protest of January 26th as a Day of Mourning in 1938, to the Pilbara Strike of 1946, to the struggle for the right to vote and be counted; the fight for justice for First Nations people takes many forms.

'Always Was, Always Will Be takes a closer look at some of the iconic First Peoples protest movements of the last 200 years, celebrating the strength, wisdom, and bravery of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people defending their land and asserting their right to self-determination through history.' (Publication summary)

'‘We are many different people in Australia, and we all live in one big country. What may seem like a simple flag to some people, has given all Torres Strait Islanders an identity and a sense of pride...’

'Bernard Namok Jnr was just a little boy when his dad designed the Torres Strait Islander Flag, a symbol of unity, shared identity and pride for all Torres Strait Islanders. This is the story of a flag and what it represents.

'Alongside Mordey’s stunning digital illustrations reflecting the vibrant colours of the Torres Strait, Namok Jnr and Mayo present an engaging, personal story that invites young readers to learn about the Torres Strait Islander peoples, place and culture. Our Flag, Our Story shares an essential piece of Australian and Torres Strait Islander history, accessible for all ages.' (Publication summary)

'Kangaroo and Emu make the first boomerang and see the first sunrise.

'Now there are days and nights … And people can find their way across Country.

'The First Sunrise is a Mbabaram creation story from Mbabaram Country in Far North Queensland and is an engaging and beautiful book for curious minds.

'The story centres around the Creator Spirit, Mulungh, directing Emu and Kangaroo how to make the first returning boomerang, which, when thrown, causes the sun to arc across the sky, forming the creation of day and night. The arrival of the first sunrise teaches Emu and Kangaroo how to read shadows, follow directions and understand the orbit of the earth around the sun, making this book perfect for use in the classroom.

'This story was told to Nessa by her father, Colin Alec Stevens (Alick Chalk), who lived traditionally in the Aboriginal Camps of Irvinebank, Bakerville and Watsonville in North Queensland, from 1901 to 1916. His learnings and stories, remain important to Mbabaram culture, language and identity.

'The First Sunrise is the inaugural title in the new Magabala series First Peoples • First Sciences ― children’s picture books that pair fun science with First Nations knowledge.' (Publication summary)

'Because I Love Him by Ashlee Donohue is a memoir of privileged insight into strong family ties, the intricacies of relationships and the unspoken expectations within urban Aboriginal communities. This is a very personal account of love, loss, addiction, motherhood and domestic violence. Ashlee chronicles the profound impact of life on the margins on herself, her family and her community.

'A proud Dunghutti woman, born and raised in Kempsey NSW, Ashlee was determined to keep her family together, despite the unforgivable acts and inevitable fallout, to gift her children what she never had—the presence of their father.

'This deeply engaging and inspiring memoir gives the reader a privileged look into a life unravelling and the journey from addict to empowerment. A riveting story told with compassion and sensitivity.' (Publication summary)

'Big, Big Love is filled with beautiful illustrations and a soft, lilting text that is easy for children to follow along. It is a tender story for early childhood readers that embraces the message of unconditional love and acceptance.

'A true ode to motherhood.' (Publication summary)

''You can't enslave us all, Captain!' I yelled into his face. 'We will resist, and you will die a beaten man. Our Blackfellows will rise...'

'From the acclaimed author of the Miles Franklin longlisted Madukka: The River Serpent (UWA) and the Barbara Jefferis Award shortlisted Benevolence, Compassion continues Julie Janson's emotional and intense literary exploration of the complex and dangerous lives of Aboriginal women during the 1800s in colonial New South Wales, which she began in Benevolence as a counter narrative to colonial history in Australian literature.

'Compassion is the dramatised life story of one of Julie Janson's ancestors who went on trial for stealing livestock in New South Wales, and it is an exciting and violent story of anti-colonial revenge and roaming adventure. A gripping fictive account of Aboriginal life in the 1800s, Compassion follows the life of Duringah, AKA Nell James, the outlaw daughter of the Darug hero of Benevolence, Muraging.' (Publication summary)

'This is the first book in the new 'Scales and Tails' series by award-winning children’s book author Gregg Dreise and the first in a new square format. Told with heart and humour, Super Snake will be a family favourite. 

'A charming morality tale, this book tells the tale of the Rainbow Serpent and the creation of the Darling/Barka River. 

'In the Dreamtime, the bush was in the middle of a drought. A storm came and Mundegutta Gooriya the Super Snake was created. 

'Way back, before Once-upon-a-time there was the Dreamtime and the bush was in the middle of a drought.

'After a storm, one large rainbow curved down. The Super Snake slithered down that rainbow on to the earth and promised the Elders he could help them find water. That Super Snake called out, ‘You can’t have a rainbow without water.

'‘Dhurraluwi guuma-li — Come together! Wantima — Rise up! Woorri — Share.’ ' 

Like many, Gregg read The Rainbow Serpent by Dick Roughsey in primary school. He has always wanted to make a Rainbow Serpent book from his own Culture to highlight to people the diverse Countries and Cultures across Australia. Although people around the world may think of Aboriginal people as all being the same, there are hundreds of Countries on this continent. (Publication summary)

'to open up / to respond as genuinely as possible / to offer hope / we want things to change / weaving solidarity from place and history / into collective purpose (Ellen Van Neerven and Layli Long Soldier)

'Following from the much-loved Guwayu anthology, this second collaboration between Red Room Poetry and Magabala Books invites some of the world’s leading First Nations poets together in poetic conversation. This collection weaves words across lands and seas, gathering collaborative threads and shining a light on First Nations poetry from Australia and across the globe.

''By anchoring the project in relationality, Woven’s foundation is about how we connect with each other and what we are prepared, as First Nation artists, to offer and receive. The emphasis was about (re)generating poetic First Nations bonds ― solidarity, consensus, family, land, oceans, the moon, remembering, dreaming, sharing, opening, mourning, respect, celebrating, finding, losing, healing and more healing.' ― Anne-Marie Te Whiu' (Publication summary)