Category: First nations
Crow Baby is a story that will capture the imagination of both young and older readers, inspiring them to embrace their unique gifts. Here’s Helen Milroy to tell you more about it.
The Koori Curriculum Book Summit Recordings for 2023 are now available for educators. Fremantle Press’s own Helen Milroy is among the list of contributors for 2023 with her picture book Wombat, Mudlark and Other Stories. Access to the 2023 Koori Curriculum allows patrons to hear what’s behind the stories created by First Nations storytellers. You and your classroom […]
In Nedingar: Ancestors by Isobel Bevis and Leanne Zilm, the main character says ‘Ngaangk, ngany koodakarn djinang nganyang nedingar wer kaadatj baalabany’, or ,‘Please Mum, I want to meet my Ancestors and know who they are’. What do you think her answer was? To find out, listen to Isobel reading from her book. Then download […]
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'Identify the missing Noongar words'Download activity sheet
Nedingar: Ancestors by Isobel Bevis and Leanne Zilm is a lyrical, dual language picture book that celebrates the beauty of Country and family. Listen to Isobel read the story in Noongar.
Colour Me is a children’s picture book that uses the rainbow as a metaphor for our diversity and uniqueness. Ezekiel Kwaymullina and Moira Court use screen prints and evocative prose to deliver a strong message of diversity and inclusion. The Colour Me colouring-in activity sheet encourages individuality, creativity and self-awareness. For more teaching activities, download […]
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Get ready to discover the birds living in the Australian bush with Palyku author and illustrator Helen Milroy in her vibrant picture book, Bush Birds.
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'Bush BIrds'Download activity sheet
Noongar Boodja Waangkan: Noongar First Words by Wadjak Balardong Noongar and Badimaya Yamatji author Jayden Boundry, and Wardandi Noongar and Ait Koedhal illustrator Tyrown Waigana, is an illustrated book of first Noongar words. Created for those interested in learning about the vibrant, living First Nations language and culture of the Noongar people. The book covers words for family, […]
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'Noongar Boodja Waangkan posters'Download activity sheet
Noongar Boodja Waangkan: Noongar First Words by Wadjak Balardong Noongar and Badimaya Yamatji author Jayden Boundry, and Wardandi Noongar and Ait Koedhal illustrator Tyrown Waigana, is an illustrated book of first Noongar words. Created for those interested in learning about the vibrant, living First Nations language and culture of the Noongar people. The book covers words for family, […]
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'Noongar Boodja Waangkan Stickers'Download activity sheet
Helen Milroy is a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. She has always had a passionate interest in health and wellbeing, especially for children, which is why she became a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. In this Q&A the talented writer and illustrator tells us about her latest book. Tell […]
In Helen Milroy’s newest picture book, Owl loves the sparkle of the stars and sits on his tree at dusk waiting for them to appear. But Owl becomes worried one evening when his favourite, Little Star, doesn’t show herself. So Owl searches far and wide using all his strength to bring her back. This free […]
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'Help Owl and Little Star Sparkle'Download activity sheet
Ninni Yabini is a dual language picture book – in Noongar and English – by Cheryl Kickett-Tucker and Tyrown Waigana. We asked Cheryl to tell us more about why she wrote the book and why wants you to read this story with the kids in your life. Why did you write the picture book? I […]
Jayden Boundry has been hard at work behind the scenes recording an online pronunciation guide to support readers of Noongar Boodja Waangkan: First Noongar Words. Launched to coincide with the United Nations International Year of Indigenous Languages, the book was co-created by Jayden, a Wadjak Ballardong Noongar and Badimaya Yamatji man, and Tyrown Waigana, a […]
Born in 1927, Gladys Milroy was taken to the Parkerville Orphanage at two years old and spent the next 14 years separated from her mother, Daisy. Gladys say, ‘I think the thing is about growing up in an orphanage is that you live in a story all the time because that’s the way you survive.’
Three Fremantle Press titles are in the running for major awards and another has been highly commended, plus the life’s work of a Fremantle Press writer has been remembered and recognised. Stellarphant is shortlisted for the 2022 Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Picture Book of the Year and the 2021 Aurealis Award for Best Children’s […]
Ethics of Representation panellist Rashida Murphy.
nlimited Futures: Visionary, Speculative Blak and Black Fiction is now available and we’re over the moon for all the contributors, editors, designers and publishers involved. A week past the release, we asked editors Rafeif Ismail and Ellen van Neerven to reflect on the journey thus far.
Backyard Birds by Helen Milroy is a children’s picture book which celebrates the birds in our backyards. The Backyard Birds activity sheet is designed to creatively improve identification skills, fine motor skills and visual and written literacy. For more teaching activities, download the free teaching notes here.
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Little Jiang is a children’s fiction novel inspired by Chinese folklore. Shirley Marr wrote this book to teach Chinese mythology and folklore and to encourage children to learn about other cultures. The Design Your Own Menu activity sheet encourages children to foster imagination, creativity and improve written and visual literacy. For more teaching activities, download […]
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'Little Jiang Activity'Download activity sheet
Backyard Bugs is a boldly illustrated book from First Nations author and illustrator Helen Milroy, which takes you on an adventure through the garden, to search for all the creepy-crawlies that you may find there. Identify the bugs and colour them in this activity sheet that will get kids out in their backyards. Colouring-in activity […]
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'Backyard Bugs Activity'Download activity sheet
Backyard Beasties by Helen Milroy is sending us into the garden to see what creatures live there in this stunning picture book. Backyard Beasties is designed to teach us all about the croaking, barking, screeching, mewling creatures that share our homes, and this activity sheet helps kids identify what lives around us. For more teaching […]
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'Backyard Beasties Activity'Download activity sheet
Written by Ezekiel Kwaymullina and illustrated by Sally Morgan, We All Sleep is a picture book that celebrates the interconnectedness of people and animals in lyrical language and sumptuous colour. The Make Your Own Mobile activity sheet is great for expressing creativity and identifying objects. For more teaching activities, download the free teaching notes here.
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'We All Sleep Activity'Download activity sheet
I Love Me is a children’s picture book and board book which celebrates individuality and encourages self-esteem. Acclaimed creators Sally Morgan and Ambelin Kwaymullina, this book encourages visual and written comprehension using rhyme and illustrations. The I Love Me Self-Portrait Activity activity is a great learning tool for self-awareness, human anatomy and self-esteem building. For […]
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'I Love Me Activity'Download activity sheet
Bush and Beyond is a short story collection drawing together four tales for younger readers from the Waarda series of First Nations stories, edited by acclaimed author Sally Morgan. The Create Your Own Special Tree activity sheet supports visual and written literacy, creativity and fine motor skills. For more teaching activities, download the free teaching […]
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'Bush and Beyond Activity'Download activity sheet
Last year was a great year for Helen Milroy. Her work was shortlisted for the WA Premier’s Book Awards, the Readings Children’s Book Prize and the Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards, while reviewers called her picture book Backyard Birds vibrant, bright, beautiful, wonderful, colourful and bold. In 2021 the First Nations author […]