25 Gorgeous Australian Picture Books From 2019

Last year, I rounded up 2018 with a compilation of 20 of my favorite Australian picture books. This year, it has been my joyful task to do my best to see as many of the picture books published in Australia in 2019 for this year’s round up. A bookseller once told me that Australians do picture books particularly well, and after another year of deep diving into our offerings, I have to agree. I tried to narrow this list down to 20 once again, but I could not bring myself to take a single book off this already pared down list.

So, for 2019, I’m presenting (in no particular order) 25 Gorgeous Australian picture books. I think there’s something for every taste and a range of ages on here, so go forth and support our exceedingly talented creators by buying their work for your family and as gifts, pick them up in the library to get to know them, and join me in telling the world what a gift we have in our Australian picture book artists.

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Horatio Squeak

By Karen Foxlee, Illustrated by Evie Barrow

I probably shouldn’t pick favorites more than I already have to create this list, but I do believe that Horatio Squeak is my personal favorite Australian picture book of 2019. Horatio Squeak is the “tiniest mouse you ever could meet,” shy and polite, and overshadowed by his 11 siblings and the enormous mansion he lives in. One day, he is invited to a party … hosted by cats. He’s brave to step out of his comfort zone, but then has to find even more bravery to stand up for something he knows to be right. The verse is perfect and the illustrations feel timeless. For every child who has ever felt a little bit small, but is really big deep inside. (Walker Books)

Cocoon

By Aura Parker

No one makes creepy critters as appealing as the supremely talented Aura Parker. Her Twig remains an all-time favorite here, so its follow-up about moth named Dawn was highly anticipated with my crew. Dawn, as a caterpillar, has some great friends, who are ready for “the plan,” which is to build their cocoons and emerge as moths. Being by herself, growing wings, turns out to be tough work – sometimes boring, lonely, surprising, and a little nerve-wracking. I’ve never before thought about how a caterpillar bides their time in their cocoon! Dawn and her friends finally appear as stunning creatures. It was worth the wait. (Scholastic Australia)

Fly

By Jess McGeachin

Oh, the high-flying beauty of this touching tale about a girl and her bird. Lucy is a handy little thing (I love a book with a clever female lead!), always helping her dad. When she finds a hurt bird, it’s her great wish to help it fly again. There’s an aviary spread in the middle of this book that stopped me in my tracks with its beauty. And, the ending is not what you might expect, but an honest message of how to go on when the things we love are hurting. (Penguin Books)

A Quiet Girl

By Peter Carnavas

Speaking of clever little heroines, Mary is a quiet girl, who struggles to be noticed in her loud family. She finds her comfort in retreating into nature, and it is on her terms that her family finally misses her and has to meet her in the space (and volume) where she is comfortable. I was going to say that this book is perfect for all of the quiet kids out there, but really, it’s a marvelous lesson for the “loud” amongst us to not overlook the gifts of the people who fly under the radar, as well. (University of Queensland Press)

Tilly

By Jane Godwin, Illustrated by Anna Walker

Tilly is also a girl who is a little overwhelmed in a boisterous family. Her special place is a secret step where she hides all of her special treasures. I think everyone can remember or relate to the importance of little found treasures in the life of a child, as well as the quest for a “spot” all one’s own. My heart breaks for Tilly when she loses every little thing dear to her, and no one else in the world knows what’s happened. This is a story of resilience, though, with time and memory the balms for moving on. (Scholastic Australia)

Go Go and the Silver Shoes

By Jane Godwin and Anna Walker

My goodness were Jane Godwin and Anna Walker busy creating incredibly beautiful books this year, and lost things must have been on their hearts and minds. Go Go doesn’t get a lot of new things, and the other kids don’t really understand her unique style. When she gets a pair of sparkly silver shoes, she doesn’t want to take them off for anything – even when her mother tells her not to wear them to the creek. Losing one of her precious shoes is a hard lesson. Maybe there’s a bit of magic at work when a new friend enters her life, bringing the lost shoe with her. The ending is the most endearing comment on friendship – heartfelt and poetically perfect. If you’re a bit of a sap like me, bring a tissue. (Penguin)

All of the Factors of Why I Love Tractors

By Davina Bell, Illustrated by Jenny Lovlie

This book delights me for so many reasons. First of all, it’s about the library, so that’s an immediate tick in its favor. Then, there’s little Frankie who loves books about tractors. Loves them. And, kids who big-big love things are awfully special, because most of us grow up and forget how to big-big love tractors, or dinosaurs, or ballet, or whatever it is. It can be hard to live with a kid with big love for one thing, and that’s why Frankie’s mother is perfect. She is so tired of tractor books, and is ready to ready him anything else. I’ve been there. If you’re a parent, you have been there. We are all Frankie’s mum. His factors for loving tractors are abundant and abiding, however, and the tractor books will come home from the library for yet another day. I feel you, Frankie’s mum, but I’m cheering for Frankie and his awesome tractors. (Hardie Grant Egmont)

Lights Out, Leonard

By Josh Pyke, Illustrated by Chris Nixon

Fears of things that go bump in the night are so real for little people. Their imaginations can spin up some truly terrifying things – like a “five-nosed, seven-tailed, eleven-handed, scaly-waily monster,” and a whole bunch of equally creepy pals. It’s no wonder that Leonard keeps saying “NO” when his parents ask him to turn out the lights at bedtime. It’s a book with lessons on “how to frighten monsters” that turns things around for little Leonard, and coincidentally, this book hit my house just as we were in the grips of a scared of the dark episode of our own. My 6 year old took to this story like it was an instruction manual. I can’t guarantee that Lights Out Leonard will rid your home of monsters, but it’s worth a shot! (We were given a copy of Lights out Leonard for review purposes by Penguin Australia)

I See, I See

By Robert Henderson

How darn clever this book is! Each page is a picture that is two images, depending on which way you look at it. Empty/Full, Dad/Mum, Diving/Flying, etc. The fun in this book is that you flip it several times as you go, adding a little bit of disorientation as to whether you’re at the “beginning” or “end” of the book. This one is designed for reading aloud, and would be so much fun with a group of kids, or even just between a carer and child. It’s a bright, well designed lesson in perspective. (Allen & Unwin)

Baby Business

By Jane Seymour

Simple text and striking illustrations introduce a traditional smoking ritual that welcomes a new baby to country. Several Darug words are used, and a glossary in the back gives their definitions. I came away from this book thinking how precious this tradition is, connecting the women of the community to the new baby, and all connecting to the Earth. (Magabala Books)

Ella and the Ocean

By Lian Tanner, Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley

Ella lives on a drought-stricken farm. One night, she dreams of the ocean. Most of her family doesn’t understand, at first, but her grandmother shares her sense of adventure. For those of us whose children have only heard about the current drought’s impact on Australian farmers, the pictures in this book create a powerful image of how dry, and how very far away from water, the homes of many farming families are. The deep outback ochres next to the ocean blues in Bentley’s illustrations brings Ella’s dream into striking contrast. This book is a testament to the power of our imaginations. (Allen & Unwin)

The Boy In the Big Blue Glasses

By Susanne Gervay, Illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall

Sam has new glasses, and now he doesn’t feel like himself any longer. Adults will recognize our well-meaning comments in the relatives and teacher who ask him who this handsome boy is, and suggest that a superhero must have joined the class. He doesn’t care for this new attention or how the glasses feel. In the end, his classmates make him feel like he fits in again, but its the honesty of how out of sorts the glasses make Sam feel that’s stuck with me. Something like a new pair of glasses can be a big change for a small child, and this book honors those feelings. (Exisle Publishing)

Arthur and the Tiger

By Sophie Beer

I just adore Sophie Beer’s bright, bold illustrations, and a circus seems like a natural subject for her style. Arthur is the ringmaster’s nephew: though he’s surrounded by daring performers, he’s never been brave, himself. So, he’s struck with terror when he’s given the job of taming the circus’s new tiger. In fact, the whole town is struck with fear at the idea of a terrifying tiger, and anti-tiger sentiment sweeps the town. It turns out that Arthur is the perfect choice for “taming”the tiger, whose ferociousness has been misunderstood. This is a story about individual strengths and being careful with our judgments. (Penguin)

Wrestle!

By Charlotte Mars, Maya Newell, Gus Skateboll-James, Illustrated by Tom Jellett

Inspired by a story in the documentary Gayby Baby, Wrestle! is about a boy who loves wrestling and wants to be like his favorite wrestlers. He wants his family to dress as wrestlers for the upcoming Sydney Mardi Gras parade, but his mothers think wrestling is too violent. Their eventual compromise is a beautifully illustrated rainbow wrestler lovefest. I love that this book gives us a rainbow family from a child’s perspective – all kids can relate to trying to convince their parents to come around to their point of view. The more diverse families that I can put in front of my kids in picture books, the better! (Allen & Unwin)

My Folks Grew Up in the 80s

By Beck and Robin Feiner

On first look at My Folks Grew Up in the 80s, I was doubled over in laughter, at the sight of so many childhood memories – hair crimpers, rock star makeup, hypercolor t-shirts, and cassette tapes, just to name a few. I thought it might be a bit of nostalgia that I’d enjoy but wouldn’t mean much to my 6 year old. To my surprise, she could not get enough of this book! My trip down memory lane was her quirky history lesson, and she loved asking me if all of these things were real (corded telephones were particularly mind-blowing to her). We’ve continued on down an 80s music and TV rabbit hole thanks to this book, and I am not mad about it. (ABC Books)

Love Your Body

By Jessica Sanders, Illustrated by Carol Rossetti

As someone who has spent most of my life not particularly loving my body, I try hard not to pass that attitude along to my little girls. But, as they grow up, I know firsthand how many body-shaming images and attitudes they are up against. Not talking about bodies is just not a strong enough response – they need to be actively told again and again that all bodies are worth loving. As the title suggests, this book does just that. Every page features women of every shape and ability in a positive way, and the text both empowers and gives tools for when you might not be feeling the body love. This is a picture book best suited to kids about 7+, and would be completely appropriate for a teen girl (though, it would be great for younger kids to see the pictures, as well!). (Five Mile)

Saved!

By Lydia Williams, Illustrated by Lucinda Gifford

Speaking of positive images for girls, whenever I see a book about girls in sports, you have my attention. I don’t feel like there are nearly enough representations of sporty girls for me to share with my sporty girl. Author Lydia Williams is an Indigenous Australian soccer player, and her experiences of playing sports while traveling to many Aboriginal communities as a child forms the basis of Saved!. In the book, little Lydia has Australian animals to play with, but each one is a lot better at different aspects of sports than she is. She learns about playing for fun, not only to be “the best,” as well as the resilience it takes to play your hardest. It’s a light story with nice messages and darling illustrations. Worth a look for any any sporty kids. (Allen & Unwin)

Thelma the Unicorn

By Aaron Blabey

Maybe it’s a little bit meta that one of the most anticipated literary returns this year was the return of Thelma the Unicorn, who fled the spotlight at the end of her first book. You can’t miss Thelma in this shiny gold covered sequel. Thelma’s fans have been bereft without her, but she is making her return on her own terms. I really love the Thelma the Unicorn books because we live in a time when our kids cannot escape the concept of fame from such an early age. It can be hard for children (heck, it can be hard for adults!) to recognize the artifice of popularity and stardom that’s based on a facade. Thelma continues to be a reminder that we can only be happy by being authentic. (Scholastic)

Liarbird

By Laura and Philip Bunting

Truth and lies are also at the forefront of the funny Liarbird, the latest in a collection of books about Australian animals by Laura and Philip Bunting. The lyrebird is an expert mimic of noises, and the Buntings have taken that idea to create their “liarbird,” a lyrebird who espouses the virtues of lying. The lyrebird loves lying to everyone, without regard to consequences, until it gets itself into a “boy who cried wolf” situation and has to reform his ways (though, he may go a little too far…).

Fauna

By Tania McCartney

If interesting Australian animals (including the lyrebird) are your thing, you cannot go past Fauna. This information book is seriously stunning. McCartney pairs snippets of facts about a whole host of Australian animals – from crocodiles to cassowaries, dugongs to sugar gliders and many more – with her divine illustrations. There’s also a startling extinction report and early Indigienous and European impressions of our unusual animals. I’m always looking for books to send to kids overseas, and I think this is my new go-to. Of course, information loving Aussie kids will adore this one for years. (National Library of Australia)

My Culture and Me

By Gregg Driese

Both personal and universal, Driese introduces his Aboriginal culture, inherently connected to himself, from music to ceremonies to the land. The intricate pictures use the lush colours of Australia. He shares his pride in his culture and the importance of passing it on to future generations. “This is my culture. This is me.” I’d recommend this book for any Australian child. (Penguin)

Dear Grandpa

By Kate Simpson, Illustrated by Ronojoy Ghosh

Oh boy – as an expat with all of our family overseas, this book got me right in the feels. Henry has moved far away from his Grandpa, and the two keep in touch through a series of letters. The letters focus on measuring the distance between their houses and how Henry is growing. Henry doesn’t have to say how very much he misses his Grandpa for you to pick up the subtext, while Grandpa maintains that the space between them is not insurmountable with a grandfather’s special gifts. How sweet it is when they finally get to have a visit. This is the most precious relationship between granddad and grandson. If your family is far away, you will absolutely treasure this story. (Allen & Unwin)

The Gift

By Michael Speechley

Michael Speechley has done it again. Following up his brilliant The All New Must Have Orange 430, Speechley’s The Gift is a layered, surprising story about a lonely little girl who becomes intrigued with a seemingly abandoned house across the street. She is the only one who knows that it’s not abandoned, and she decides to leave the person who lives there a gift – a perfect gift, not something expected or overdone. The gift she picks creates a bond between herself and another lonely person. I love so much that Speechley’s books never go where you think they will and that they remind us that art is a means to build authentic human connections. (Penguin)

Tiny Star

By Mem Fox, Illustrated by Freya Blackwood

A nearly perfect book for explaining death to a child. In this tale of life and death, a tiny star falls to Earth and becomes a baby. We follow as she lives a wonderful life, full of love and family. As the “tiny star” ages, she starts to become smaller, until she is no more. Her family and community grieve her (there’s one picture with just one child looking for her, which is so poignant to make the grief child-centered), but the text explains that the “tiny star” has gone back to the heavens, so she’s always with us. So much thought has been put into Blackwood’s sensitive images. I like that the idea of the star in “the heavens” works whether your family is religious or not – it can fit perfectly with an afterlife belief or work simply as a metaphor for our loved ones being a part of us. Either way, it’s a comforting explanation when words are hard to find for a family grieving a loved one. (Penguin)

Summer Time

By Hilary Bell, Illustrated by Antonia Pesenti

Mangoes, magpies, water slides, and sausages, the latest collaboration between Hilary Bell and Antonia Pesenti presents a quintessential Aussie summer. Bell’s text is funny, crisp, and sometimes wistful, and sits perfectly with Pesenti’s smart yet easy on the eyes collage-style illustrations. Summer Time is ultimately about that perspective of time that’s unique to the summer, especially as children, where time somehow seems to drag on and whoosh past at the same time. “Eternity,” in vastly different perspectives, bookends the first and last page, marking the start and end of one perfectly Australian summer.

There are 25 of the gorgeous picture books Australian authors and illustrators have published this year. For some of last year’s best, visit the 2018 list. And, follow along on Instagram to see what we’re reading all year round!

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