Ambelin Kwaymullina is an Aboriginal writer, illustrator and law academic. She comes from the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Ambelin works across a range of storytelling forms including non-fiction, young adult novels and children’s picture books.
Today, Ambelin Kwaymullina is on the blog to share with us her favourite kids’ books from First Nations authors. Read on!
Why I chose these books
These books speak through words and pictures to the cultures, histories and identities of First Nations peoples from across Australia. For non-Indigenous parents seeking to respectfully introduce their children to First Nations’ worlds, these books are an essential library, the foundation of a collection that will help children and adults alike grow their knowledge and understanding of diverse, vibrant and powerful First Nations voices.
—Ambelin Kwaymullina
Kunyi by Kunyi June Anne McInerney
Through an extraordinary collection of over 60 paintings, accompanied by stories, Kunyi presents a rare chronicle of what life was like for Kunyi June Anne McInerney and the other Children’s Home kids who became her family.
Sea Country by Aunty Patsy Cameron and Lisa Kennedy
In this delightful children’s picture book, Aunty Patsy Cameron generously shares the stories and traditions from her family’s seasonal island life in Tasmania.
My Story, Ngaginybe Jarragbe by Shirley Purdie
Told in English and Gija, this is the story of Shirley Purdie, famous Gija artist, as told through her paintings, as part of the Ngaalim-Ngalimboorro Ngagenybe exhibition created for the 2018 National Portrait Gallery exhibition So Fine: Contemporary women artists make Australian history.
Respect by Aunty Faye Muir,Sue Lawson and Lisa Kennedy
A tender, thoughtful story reminding us to respect others and respect ourselves. Part of the Our Place series which welcomes children to culture.
Family by Aunty Faye Muir, Sue Lawson and Jasmine Seymour
This beautifully illustrated children’s picture book shows everyone that ‘family’ can be about heart and home; an endless sky; stories and songs.
Our World Bardi Jaawi: Life at Ardiyooloon by One Arm Point Remote Community School
Our World: Bardi-Jaawi life at Ardiyooloon takes readers inside the lives of the children of a remote Indigenous community — lives very different to those experienced by most Australians.
Fair Skin Black Fella by Renee Fogorty
This is the story of Mary, a young Aboriginal girl who lives on a red and dusty cattle station. Shunned by the other girls because of her fair skin, Old Ned, one of the community elders, finally speaks up.
Alfred’s War by Rachel Bin Salleh and Samantha Fry
Alfred’s War is a powerful story that unmasks the lack of recognition given to Australian Indigenous servicemen who returned from the WWI battlelines.
Cooee Mittigar by Jasmine Seymour and Leanne Mulgo Watson
Cooee Mittigar, meaning Come Here Friend, is an invitation to yana (walk), on Darug Country. In this stunning picture book, Darug creators Jasmine Seymour and Leanne Mulgo Watson tell a story on Darug Songlines, introducing children and adults-alike to Darug Nura (Country) and language.
Brother Moon by Maree McCarthy Yoelu and Samantha Fry
Brother Moon is a powerful story lovingly told by a great-grandfather to his great-grandson. Beneath the dark sky of the Northern Territory, Hippy-Boy is captivated when Great-Grandpa Liman tells him the mysterious story of his brother and how it guides his connection to Country.
Stolen Girl by Trina Saffioti and Norma MacDonald
Stolen Girl is a fictionalised account of the now universally known story of the Stolen Generation and tells of an Aboriginal girl taken from her family and sent to a children’s home.
Silly Birds by Greg Dreise
In this humble, charming and humorous morality tale, Maliyan is a proud eagle who always looks, listens and sees things from a long way away. One day he meets the turkey Wagun, who is a silly bird, and together these two new friends begin to do silly-bird things.
Marngrook by Titta Secombe and Grace Fielding
This little gem of a book captures the shenanigans of some very cheeky Australian animals. From a kangaroo that hops free, to a dingo that howls with might, this rhythmical yet humble tale takes a different look at some quintessential Australian animals.
Counting Our Country by Jill Daniels
Counting our Country is a bilingual counting book from Jill Daniels, an Indigenous artist who lives in SE Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. Jill’s paintings of animals found on her country celebrate her distinctive style and playful use of colour. Children will love counting the animals from 1 to 10 as they turn the pages.
The Tribe Trilogy
Join Ashala Wolf, Ember Crow, and Georgie Spider as they use their powers to resist an oppressive government, protect their tribe of outcasts and the sentient forest that hides them, and race to save the world in this sharply written dystopia woven with Kwaymullina's own Aboriginal heritage.
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