Environments
Picture books
My Place by Nadia Wheatley illus by Donna Rawlins
By moving backwards in decades from 1989, this sophisticated picture book shows how a particular neighbourhood in Sydney has changed from an urban street to the first white settlement and before to the time when the Aborigines lived there. The story is told through the eyes of the various children who lived there. An innovative book which inspires students to work on similar projects wherever they are in the world. (8 years up)
The Rabbits by John Marsden illus by Shaun Tan
A sophisticated picture books for middle & secondary students. A powerful allegory which surveys, aided through extraordinarily innovative illustrations, the impact rabbits (and human rabbits) have had on the Australian land
Fiction
Blueback: A Fable for all Ages by Tim Winton
An environmentally conscious story about Abel and his mother who live by the sea and whose lives revolve round the ocean. They endeavour to protect their bit of ocean and the creatures who live in it from anything that may harm them. (9 years up)
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
This is a story of survival. Brian is travelling in a plane over the Alaskan wilderness when it crashes. With nothing but a hatchet rescued from the plane Brian survives for 59 days alone before being rescued. It is a fascinating exploration of his thoughts and feelings towards himself and the environment as he struggles to find ways to survive and the change he feels in himself as he realises that he can. (10 – 15 years)
Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson
A splendid story about a young orphan girl who at the turn of the century goes on a long journey with her governess to the Amazon. The town of Manaus is a place of horror to some because of its all pervasive insects, wildlife, heat, fearsome Indians and steamy lushness but for others like Maia and her governess, it is a place of endless wonder, of amazing creatures, plant life and people. Maia the young orphan girl is a most resourceful heroine who shows her ingenuity time and again as she struggles to live in the same house as her thoroughly obnoxious relatives. This is a richly satisfying adventure story which has warmth, humour and a sense of the fantastic. (9 - 14 years)
Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo
When Michael is washed up on an island he struggles to survive on his own. He is about to give up when food appears. He is not alone. This is a wonderful story of survival and about Kensuke, an elderly Japanese man who lives on the island and has survived for many years using traditional Japanese skills and crafts. (9 – 15 years).
Village by the Sea by Anita Desai
A moving story by this well known author showing some of the problems facing families trying to escape from the poverty of village life in India. It shows some of the environmental problems facing villagers as the population increases and resources are threatened. (12 years up)
My Place by Nadia Wheatley illus by Donna Rawlins
By moving backwards in decades from 1989, this sophisticated picture book shows how a particular neighbourhood in Sydney has changed from an urban street to the first white settlement and before to the time when the Aborigines lived there. The story is told through the eyes of the various children who lived there. An innovative book which inspires students to work on similar projects wherever they are in the world. (8 years up)
The Rabbits by John Marsden illus by Shaun Tan
A sophisticated picture books for middle & secondary students. A powerful allegory which surveys, aided through extraordinarily innovative illustrations, the impact rabbits (and human rabbits) have had on the Australian land
Fiction
Blueback: A Fable for all Ages by Tim Winton
An environmentally conscious story about Abel and his mother who live by the sea and whose lives revolve round the ocean. They endeavour to protect their bit of ocean and the creatures who live in it from anything that may harm them. (9 years up)
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
This is a story of survival. Brian is travelling in a plane over the Alaskan wilderness when it crashes. With nothing but a hatchet rescued from the plane Brian survives for 59 days alone before being rescued. It is a fascinating exploration of his thoughts and feelings towards himself and the environment as he struggles to find ways to survive and the change he feels in himself as he realises that he can. (10 – 15 years)
Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson
A splendid story about a young orphan girl who at the turn of the century goes on a long journey with her governess to the Amazon. The town of Manaus is a place of horror to some because of its all pervasive insects, wildlife, heat, fearsome Indians and steamy lushness but for others like Maia and her governess, it is a place of endless wonder, of amazing creatures, plant life and people. Maia the young orphan girl is a most resourceful heroine who shows her ingenuity time and again as she struggles to live in the same house as her thoroughly obnoxious relatives. This is a richly satisfying adventure story which has warmth, humour and a sense of the fantastic. (9 - 14 years)
Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo
When Michael is washed up on an island he struggles to survive on his own. He is about to give up when food appears. He is not alone. This is a wonderful story of survival and about Kensuke, an elderly Japanese man who lives on the island and has survived for many years using traditional Japanese skills and crafts. (9 – 15 years).
Village by the Sea by Anita Desai
A moving story by this well known author showing some of the problems facing families trying to escape from the poverty of village life in India. It shows some of the environmental problems facing villagers as the population increases and resources are threatened. (12 years up)
