Children & Teen

The Best Children’s Books About Australia

“What are the best Childrens books about Australia?” We looked at 228 of the top Australian Kids books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 15 titles, all appearing on 3 or more “Best Australian Kids” book lists, are ranked below by how many lists they appear on. The remaining 200+ titles, as well as the lists we used are in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.

Happy Scrolling!



Top 15 Best Books About Or Featuring Australia



15 .) Amy and Louis written by Libby Gleeson and Freeya Blackwood

Lists It Appears On:

  • Bub Hub
  • Childhood 101
  • The Conversation

When Louie’s best friend Amy moves to the other side of the world, Louie must find a way to reconnect with her.




14 .) Grug written by Ted Prior

Lists It Appears On:

  • Bub Hub
  • Childhood 101
  • Goodreads

Aust’n. BOARD BOOK. Now even littler ones can enjoy Grug, that unforgettable hero of the Australian bush who began life as the nomadic, fallen top of the native Burrawang tree… Perfect in size (and perfectly chewable for little ones) this is a great way to introduce babies to one of Australia’s favourite characters.




13 .) Imagine written by Alison Lester

Lists It Appears On:

  • Book Worm
  • Goodreads
  • The Conversation

Invites the reader to imagine what it would be like to live in various locations, such as a house, a jungle, and an icecap, and meet the animals that live there.




12 .) John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat written by Jenny Wagner

Lists It Appears On:

  • Bub Hub
  • Childhood 101
  • Goodreads

Rose’s dog John Brown, feels he can look after her without any help from the midnight cat, but Rose has different ideas.




11 .) Koala Lou written by Mem Fox

Lists It Appears On:

  • Childhood 101
  • Goodreads
  • Readings 2

A young koala, longing to hear her mother speak lovingly to her as she did before other children came along, plans to win her distracted parent’s attention.




10 .) Mirror written by Jeannie Baker

Lists It Appears On:

  • Childhood 101
  • Goodreads
  • The Barefoot Mommy

In Sydney, Australia, and in Morocco, two boys and their families have a day of shopping. Readers are invited to compare illustrations in two wordless stories that are intended to be read one from left to right and the other from right to left.




9 .) The Very Cranky Bear written by Nick Bland

Lists It Appears On:

  • Bub Hub
  • Childhood 101
  • Goodreads

On a rainy, cold day in the jungle, four animal friends hide in a cave to play, but unexpectedly meet a bear trying to nap.




8 .) Are We There Yet?: A Journey Around Australia written by Alison Lester

Lists It Appears On:

  • Bub Hub
  • Childhood 101
  • Goodreads
  • Readings 2

For six months, Grace and her family travel around Australia, seeing sights and meeting people.




7 .) Magic Beach written by Alison Lester

Lists It Appears On:

  • Childhood 101
  • Goodreads
  • Readings 2
  • Victorian Opera

Filled with fun rhymes and make-believe stories, this wonderfully illustrated children’s tale offers an imaginative view of a beach that includes swimming, surfing, and splashing. From sand castles and rock pools to boats and fish, the realistic scenes evoke images of a summer day along the waterfront where anything can happen.




6 .) Where is the Green Sheep? written by Mem Fox, Judy Horacek

Lists It Appears On:

  • Bub Hub
  • Childhood 101
  • Goodreads
  • The Conversation

A story about many different sheep, and one that seems to be missing.




5 .) Animalia written by Graeme Base

Lists It Appears On:

  • Bub Hub
  • Childhood 101
  • Goodreads
  • The Conversation
  • Victorian Opera

An alphabet book with fantastic and detailed pictures, bearing such labels as “Lazy lions lounging in the local library.”




4 .) Edward the Emu written by Sheena Knowles

Lists It Appears On:

  • Book Worm
  • Bub Hub
  • Childhood 101
  • Goodreads
  • Kids Yoga Stories

Tired of his life as an emu, Edward decides to try being something else for a change. He tries swimming with the seals, he spends a day lounging with the lions, and even slithers with the snakes. But Edward soon discovers that being an emu may be the best thing after all.




3 .) Possum Magic written by Mem Fox, illustrated by Julie Vivas

Lists It Appears On:

  • Bub Hub
  • Goodreads
  • Kids Yoga Stories
  • The Barefoot Mommy
  • The Conversation
  • Victorian Opera

When Grandma Poss’s magic turns Hush invisible, the two possums take a culinary tour of Australia to find the food that will make her visible once more.




2 .) Wombat Stew written by Marcia Vaughan, illustrated by Pamela Lofts

Lists It Appears On:

  • Bub Hub
  • Childhood 101
  • Goodreads
  • Kids Yoga Stories
  • Readings 2
  • Victorian Opera

A dingo intent on making wombat stew receives cooking suggestions from the other animals, unaware that they are protecting their fellow creature.




1 .) Diary of a Wombat written by Jackie French, illustrated by Bruce Whatley

Lists It Appears On:

  • Bub Hub
  • Childhood 101
  • Goodreads
  • Kids Yoga Stories
  • Readings 2
  • The Conversation
  • Victorian Opera

In his diary, a wombat describes his life of eating, sleeping, and getting to know some new human neighbors.





The 200 Additional Best Kids Australia Books



# Books Authors Lists
16 Big Rain Coming Katrina Germein Childhood 101
Goodreads
17 Clever Crow Readings
Readings 2
18 Fox Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks Goodreads
The Conversation
19 Hello Sydney! Readings
Readings 2
20 Hello, Australia! Readings
Readings 2
21 Hello, Melbourne! Readings
Readings 2
22 If I Was Prime Minister Readings
Readings 2
23 Josephine Wants to Dance Jackie French Childhood 101
Goodreads
24 Koalas Eat Gum Leaves Readings
Readings 2
25 Kung-fu Kangaroo Readings
Readings 2
26 Max Bub Hub
Readings
27 My Farm Bub Hub
Childhood 101
28 My Place Nadia Wheatley Goodreads
Readings 2
29 One Woolly Wombat Rod Trinca Goodreads
Kids Yoga Stories
30 Rose Meets Mr Wintergarten Bob Graham Bub Hub
Goodreads
31 Shake a Leg Readings
Readings 2
32 The Complete Adventures of Blinky Bill Dorothy Wall Book Worm
Victorian Opera
33 The Eleventh Hour Graeme Base Childhood 101
Goodreads
34 The Little Refugee Anh Do Goodreads
Readings 2
35 The Magic Pudding : The adventures of Bunyip Bluegum Norman Lindsay Goodreads
Victorian Opera
36 The Muddle-Headed Wombat Ruth Park, illustrated by Noela Young Goodreads
Victorian Opera
37 The Rainbow Serpent Dick Roughsey Readings 2
Victorian Opera
38 The Silver Brumby Elyne Mitchell Book Worm
Goodreads
39
There’s a Sea in My Bedroom
Bub Hub
Childhood 101
40 Too Many Pears! Jackie French Childhood 101
Goodreads
41 Under the Southern Cross Readings
Readings 2
42 Welcome To Country Readings
Readings 2
43 Why I Love Australia Childhood 101
Readings 2
44 Window Jeannie Baker Childhood 101
Goodreads
45 Wombat Divine Mem Fox Childhood 101
Goodreads
46 A Is for Australia Readings 2
47 A is for Australian Animals Readings 2
48 A Little Bush Maid Mary Grant Bruce Goodreads
49 A Particular Cow Mem Fox Goodreads
50 A Walk in the Bush Readings
51 Adorable Alice Cassandra Webb Goodreads
52
All the Way to W.A.: Our Search for Uncle Kev
Readings 2
53
Amazing Aussie Animal Stories
Book Worm
54
An Aussie Year: Twelve Months in the Life of Australian Kids
Childhood 101
55
Animals of Australia, Book 1: Colour-In and Stickers
Book Worm
56 At the Beach Readings 2
57 Audrey of the Outback Christine Harris Goodreads
58
Australia’s Endangered Animals
Book Worm
59 Banjo and Ruby Red Childhood 101
60 Belinda Pamela Allen Goodreads
61
Benny Bungarra’s Big Bush Clean-Up
Readings 2
62 Blinky Bill Dorothy Wall Goodreads
63 Blue Gum Ark Kids Yoga Stories
64 Bobbie Dazzler Margaret Wild Goodreads
65 Boy Overboard Morris Gleitzman Goodreads
66 Bright Star Gary Crew
Home Schooling Down Under
67 Bush Bash Readings
68 Callie’s Castle Ruth Park Goodreads
69 Chatterbox Childhood 101
70 Circle Readings 2
71 Colour Me Readings
72
Come Fly with Captain Kangaroo
Kids Yoga Stories
73
D is For Down Under: An Australia Alphabet
The Barefoot Mommy
74 Deltora Quest (Deltora Quest, #1-8) Emily Rodda Goodreads
75 Echo the Dolphin Book Worm
76 Ernie Dances to the Didgeridoo Alison Lester Goodreads
77 Eureka Stockade Alan Bordman
Home Schooling Down Under
78 Farmer Schulz’s Ducks Colin Thiele
Home Schooling Down Under
79 Feathers and Fools Mem Fox Goodreads
80 Finders Keepers Emily Rodda Goodreads
81
Found in Melbourne (Simplified Chinese Edition)
Readings
82 Grug Plays Cricket (Grug Series) Ted Prior Goodreads
83
Gus and the Driftwood Puppy: The Adventures of Gus the Galah
Book Worm
84
Gus Meets Auntie Hazel: The Adventures of Gus the Galah
Book Worm
85 Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy Lynley Dodd Goodreads
86 Harriet, You’ll Drive Me Wild! Mem Fox Goodreads
87 Hating Alison Ashley Robin Klein Goodreads
88 Hattie and the Fox Mem Fox Goodreads
89 Hello Baby! Mem Fox Goodreads
90 Hello, Mama Wallaroo
The Barefoot Mommy
91 Home in the Rain Readings 2
92
How the Birds Got their Colours: An Aboriginal Story
Book Worm
93
How the Kangaroos Got Their Tails: An Aboriginal Story
Book Worm
94 How to Scratch a Wombat: Where to Find It . . . What to Feed It . . . Why It Sleeps All Day Jackie French Goodreads
95 Human Torpedo (Lockie Leonard, #1) Tim Winton Goodreads
96 Hunwick’s Egg Mem Fox Goodreads
97 I Can Jump Puddles Alan Marshall Goodreads
98 I Do It Myself! Book Worm
99 I Don’t Believe in Dragons Childhood 101
100
I Said Nothing; The Extinction of the Paradise Parrot
Home Schooling Down Under
101 I’m Australian Too Readings 2
102 In the City I See Readings
103 Kangaroo and Crocodile Childhood 101
104 Kangaroos Hop Book Worm
105 Kookaburras Love to Laugh. Readings 2
106 Little Brown Bushrat Kids Yoga Stories
107
Little Dog and the Christmas Wish
Readings
108
Little Dog and the Summer Holiday
Readings
109 Looking for Alibrandi Melina Marchetta Goodreads
110
Luke’s A to Z of Australian Animals: A Kids Yoga Alphabet Coloring Book
Kids Yoga Stories
111 Luke’s Beach Day Kids Yoga Stories
112 Majestica’s Dreaming Book Worm
113 Mamie Readings 2
114
Marngrook: The long-ago story of aussie rules
Readings
115 Meet Captain Cook Childhood 101
116 Melbourne Word By Word Readings 2
117
Millie, Jack and the Dancing Cat
Childhood 101
118
Miss Lily’s Fabulous Pink Feather Boa
Bub Hub
119
Molly The Pig (Moli Det Bigibigi)
Readings
120 Mr Archimedes’ Bath Pamela Allen Goodreads
121 Mr Huff Readings
122 Mulga Bill’s Bicycle A.B. Paterson Goodreads
123
My First Book of Australian Birds and Animals
Book Worm
124
Nardika Learns to Make a Spear
Home Schooling Down Under
125 New Zealand ABCs
The Barefoot Mommy
126
Ngana Ngai? Who Am I? (Kaurna edition)
Readings
127 Nighty Night! Childhood 101
128 North Pole South Pole
The Barefoot Mommy
129 Obernewtyn (The Obernewtyn Chronicles, #1) Isobelle Carmody Goodreads
130 Olga The Brolga Readings 2
131 One Very Tired Wombat Readings 2
132 Only a Donkey Book Worm
133 Parachute Bub Hub
134 Peggy Bub Hub
135 Pete the Sheep-Sheep Jackie French Goodreads
136 Pig the Pug Childhood 101
137 Piranhas Don’t Eat Bananas Bub Hub
138 Playing Beatie Bow Ruth Park Goodreads
139 Possum Goes to School Kids Yoga Stories
140 Possum in the House Kiersten Jensen Goodreads
141 Puggle Catriona Hoy
Home Schooling Down Under
142 Rascal The Dragon (Rascal the Dragon, #1) Paul Jennings Goodreads
143 Robert Mumpkin Myer and the Wish Makers Hayley Merelle Goodreads
144
Rod Campbell’s Aussie Animals
Readings 2
145 Round the Twist Paul Jennings Goodreads
146 Rowan of Rin (Rowan of Rin, #1) Emily Rodda Goodreads
147 Rudie Nudie Bub Hub
148 Rules of Summer Readings 2
149 Seven Little Australians (Woolcots, #1) Ethel Turner Goodreads
150 Silver Buttons Childhood 101
151 Sleepy Bears Mem Fox Goodreads
152 Sophie Scott Goes South
The Barefoot Mommy
153 Sorry Day Readings 2
154 Stanley Paste Aaron Blabey The Conversation
155 Star Natalie Jane Prior Goodreads
156 Steve Parish Storybooks Kids Yoga Stories
157 Storm Boy Picture Book Colin Thiele Goodreads
158 Sunshine Jan Ormerod Goodreads
159 Tales from Outer Suburbia Shaun Tan Goodreads
160 Tashi (Tashi, #1) Anna Fienberg Goodreads
161 Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes Mem Fox Goodreads
162 The 12th Dog Readings
163 The Arrival Shaun Tan Goodreads
164
The Australian Animal Atlas: An Illustrated Guide to Australia’s Wildlife and its Habitats
Book Worm
165
The Barefoot Book of Animal Tales
The Barefoot Mommy
166
The Bat and the Crocodile: An Aboriginal Story
Book Worm
167 The Bunyip of Berkeley’s Creek Jenny Wagner Goodreads
168
The Children Who Loved Books
Childhood 101
169 The Coat Julie Hunt Goodreads
170 The Complete Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie May Gibbs Goodreads
171 The Croc and the Platypus Readings 2
172 The Diary of a Wombat
The Barefoot Mommy
173 The Dream of the Thylacine Book Worm
174
The Echidna and the Shade Tree: An Aboriginal Story told by Mona Green
Book Worm
175 The Family Hour in Australia Readings 2
176 The Flying Optometrist Readings 2
177 The Forests of Silence (Deltora Quest #1) Emily Rodda Goodreads
178 The Great Expedition Childhood 101
179 The Hero of Little Street Gregory Rogers The Conversation
180
The Kangaroo and the Porpoise: An Aboriginal Story
Book Worm
181 The Legend of the Golden Snail Graeme Base Goodreads
182 The Lost Thing Shaun Tan Goodreads
183 The Magic Hat Mem Fox Goodreads
184 The Muddleheaded Wombat Book Worm
185
The Pipeline CY O’Conner Built
Home Schooling Down Under
186 The Rabbits John Marsden Goodreads
187 The Red Tree Shaun Tan Goodreads
188 The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger’s Apprentice, #1) John Flanagan Goodreads
189 The Runaway Hug Childhood 101
190 The Secret of the Tower Room Diana Kupke Goodreads
191 The Singing Seal Readings 2
192 The Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie May Gibbs Victorian Opera
193 The Terrible Underpants Kaz Cooke Goodreads
194 The Water Hole Graeme Base Goodreads
195 The Wrong Book Bub Hub
196 Thelma the Unicorn Childhood 101
197 Thunderstorm Dancing Bub Hub
198 Tiddalick The Frog Who Caused a Flood Robert Roennfeldt The Conversation
199 Time for Bed Mem Fox Goodreads
200 To the Goldfields!
Home Schooling Down Under
201 Toad Heaven (Toad, #2) Morris Gleitzman Goodreads
202 Tomorrow, When the War Began (Tomorrow, #1) John Marsden Goodreads
203 Too Loud Lily Bub Hub
204 Tucking Mommy In Morag Loh Goodreads
205 Twinkle Bub Hub
206 Unbearable! Paul Jennings Goodreads
207 Unbelievable! Paul Jennings Goodreads
208 Uncanny! Paul Jennings Goodreads
209 Undone! Paul Jennings Goodreads
210 Unmentionable! Paul Jennings Goodreads
211 Uno’s Garden Graeme Base Goodreads
212 Unreal! Paul Jennings Goodreads
213
We Wish You a Ripper Christmas (with CD)
Book Worm
214 What Do You Wish For? Childhood 101
215 When I Was a Kid Rachel Tonkin
Home Schooling Down Under
216 When I was Little, Like You
Home Schooling Down Under
217
When the Forest Meets the Sea
Bub Hub
218
When the Snake Bites the Sun: An Aboriginal Story
Book Worm
219 When You Go To Melbourne Readings 2
220 Where Does Thursday Go? Childhood 101
221 Where is Galah? Readings
222 Where the Forest Meets the Sea Jeannie Baker Goodreads
223 Where the Giant Sleeps Mem Fox Goodreads
224 White Crane (Samurai Kids, #1) Sandy Fussell Goodreads
225 Who Did That? Book Worm
226 Who Sank the Boat? Pamela Allen Goodreads
227 Why I Love Summer Readings 2
228 Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge Mem Fox Goodreads


11 Best Australian Kids Book Sources/Lists



Source Article
Book Worm Australian Children’s Books – Australian Animal Books for Children
Bub Hub 25 awesome Aussie picture books for children
Childhood 101 40 of the Best Australian Picture Books by Our Favourite Australian
Goodreads Australian Children’s Literature (329 books)
Home Schooling Down Under Australian Picture Books List
Kids Yoga Stories 12 Children’s Books About Australia
Readings Blog: Australian picture books for international friends
Readings 2 Great Aussie picture books
The Barefoot Mommy Global Passport: Children’s Books Set in Australia and Antarctica
The Conversation Worth a thousand words: the top ten best Australian children’s picture
Victorian Opera 10 classic Australian children’s books
A.M. Anderson

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A.M. Anderson

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