outback information
Outback Reading - Australian Outback Books Especially For Kids
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No wonder Australian language is losing its character. 99.9% of the children’s books being sold in Australia use American and English words and expressions. I cringe every time I see ‘cowboy’ instead of ‘stockman’, ‘chicken coop’ instead of ‘chook shed’, and ‘meadow’ instead of ‘paddock’. I ‘Australianise’ books when reading them aloud to kids and suggest others do likewise. When they’re old enough to understand that the word you’ve just said doesn’t match what’s on the page it’s an ideal opportunity to explain the differences in terminology between countries, and why it’s important that we use our own words rather than imports. More information on our uniquely Australian words and expressions can be found in the ‘Translation’ pages of the website.
With rising publishing costs and price resistance amongst consumers, who typically want a Rolls Royce for the price of a Holden (or even a Daewoo), publishing quality illustrated Australian children’s books has become extremely difficult. And if it’s not profitable publishers simply cannot afford to continue. We have some of the most talented illustrators and story writers right here in Australia so it is vital that we support their efforts by purchasing these fabulous Australian books for the up-and-coming generation of readers.
There are too many excellent Australian children’s books to mention here, so those on the following list are all specifically related to the bush in some way – as well as being first-class quality and uniquely Australian:
Outback Alphabet and Outback Count out
Nora Kersh, 1999
Self published, Maxwelton (North Queensland)
Grandma’s precious chest
Nora Kersh, 2005
Boolarong Press, (Queensland)
Completely authentic, original books full of character that have been written and illustrated by a grandmother who has spentdecades living in remote areas and educated all her own children by correspondence.
Bevan’s shearing team at Beeantha
Kate, the Flying Doctor
James, the outback postman
Samantha at Helen Downs
Judy and Darryl Cooper, 1995
Holding Educational Aids, Marayong (New South Wales)
Excellent books that do a simple and effective job of explaining life in western Queensland.
Farm book (an Australian board book)
Photographs by Bill Thomas, 1992
Lothian
An excellent first-word book for toddlers, to teach them words like ‘ute’ instead of ‘pickup truck’.
Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, and other May Gibbs books
May Gibbs 1877 - 1969
Unique stories and absolutely splendid illustrations that are full of Australian plants & animals. I prefer the original books that show the simple beauty of May’s line drawings and unaltered writing, rather than the ‘modernised’ versions with glossy lurid colours and ‘updated’ text. Read the original books to the kids and let them play with the more recently published versions. The books do contain the occasional mention of May’s views re. trapping feral animals and a lecture or two on adults maltreating animals, however kids are unlikely to notice these opinions. (I only realised the sub text in adulthood.)
‘Nutcote’ is the name of May’s Sydney home that was rescued from demolition and restored. The Nutcote website is worth a visit.
The Billabong series of books
Mary Grant Bruce 1878-1958
Some people would find Mary Grant Bruce’s books a bit dated, especially some of the attitudes. But I found her books to be a great read and source of inspiration. It’s quite likely that they motivated me to move further out into the sticks (whereas for many, it’s the watching of films set in the American Wild West that inspired them to head bush). The illustrated dust jackets on the 1950s reprints are excellent. Look for the original books in secondhand bookshops and online. Mary Grant Bruce had a very impressive writing career and a summary can be found on the Australian Women’s Archives Project website.)
