Dingo's Dream by Helen Milroy

Bookseller blurb: There is someone in distress, but who? Dingo checks on everyone in his community but they're all fine. He mounts a search and rescue mission. He searches all over the countryside until he stumbles across his homeland he hasn't visited for many years and is now an empty landscape. They find a strange animal stranded at the bottom of ravine. It was Dingo s country that called him to rescue the stranger - a Tasmanian Devil a long way from home. Dingo remembers the packs of dingoes who sang at sunset long ago and he goes back and sings, and soon many packs of dingoes are singing at sunset again. Tasmanian Devil helps Dingo on his way home and tells all the dingoes across the land, their country is calling them home.

The stunning illustrations on glossy pages are a visual delight with the white text being a standout feature. This skilfully written narrative is highly accessible and would be a perfect read for those Early Years children seeking an early chapter book or would be an entertaining short novel to be read aloud in class. Read Plus

Read more about Dingoes - Bush Heritage Australia.

Taronga Zoo

This book is part of a series by Helen Milroy from Magabala Books (thanks for my review copy). Dingo's Dream is the first book from the second series. You should try to collect all of these for your school library. 

Tales from the Bush Mob are books about a group of animals who work together to solve problems. These stories emphasise the value of respect for First Nations culture and country, as well as the importance of courage, perseverance and wisdom to bind communities together.

Each book shares a rich landscape of characters and places, including Dingo, Willy-willy Wagtail, Eagle, Platypus, Koala, Wombat, Kookaburra, Echidna and Kangaroo. These stories emphasise the value of respect for First Nations culture and country, as well as the importance of courage, 

perseverance and wisdom to bind communities together.

Helen Milroy is a born storyteller and a talented artist. She is a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia but was born and educated in Perth. Currently Helen is the University of Western Australia and Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation Professor in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Commissioner with the National Mental Health Commission. Helen has been on state and national mental health and research advisory committees and boards with a particular focus on Indigenous mental health as well as the wellbeing of children.

The Sunbird by Sara Haddad illustrated by Baraa Awoor

Begin with this text quote:

"Before they left, Nabila went to the olive grove one last time. She wandered among the trees that were never just trees. They fed her, sheltered her, kept her company. She loved to climb them so much that, in the warmer months, Nabila spent more time above the ground than on it. She even had a job to climb to the very top of the olive trees and pick the best olives, the sweetest fruit. The people in the village called her the sunbird."

Now you also need to know that the Palestine sunbird is the national bird of Palestine. It is a symbol of  beauty, resilience and freedom. These THREE words are very important.

Now go back to the quote - Who is Nabila? Why are they leaving? Where does she live? Are her family with her? Where will she go? Are there no olive trees in the new place? Will she be safe? Will she be happy?

How would you feel if all you had of your home was the front door key? 

 I just had to show you a Palestine Sunbird and how spectacular they look

This book is told in three parts - we begin in Australia in October 2025. People are gathering for a protest march just as they have every week for the last two years. Then the time shifts back to December 1947 as Nabila recounts the story of her childhood and her Nakba story. In the final chapter the focus switches back to that first day in 2025 where Nabila is sharing her story with her new young friend Zane. I was so moved when Nabila, now aged in her 80s, gives Zane that small stone she picked up near her home on that terrible day when the bombs began to fall.

1947 "As she squatted to pick up a stone to throw into the water, she heard it and felt it and saw it all at once, the first of the bombs."

2025 "This stone is for you. Take care of it. Every day, hold it between your fingers, raise it to your nose, close your eyes and breathe in deep. If you clear your mind and concentrate hard, you will smell the autumn rains."

From the cover and title you might think this is a simple book for a young reader but reading this book you will discover it is so much more. This is one of those important books that I would love to put into the hands of readers aged 10+ as a way to give a small understanding of the history of Palestine as told through the eyes of a young child. Older readers will want to discover more about UN Resolution 181 and Resolution 194. Huge thanks to UQP for my advance reader copy of The Sunbird. I especially appreciated the Author's Notes and glossary. This book will be released on 3rd February 2025. Gleebooks Kids will hold a launch event on 7th February.

The Sunbird (my copy) is an adaption of an adult novel which was published in 2024. The adult version is 128 pages so it is a slim novel - the young reader version has 73 pages. Hopefully this book will be shared with lots of readers but I also hope it 'lands' in the right section of a bookstore - with the middle grade novels and not shelved with very junior beginning chapter books. Booksellers need to read this book both because it is important and then because they can then match it with the 'right' reader. Similarly if you are in a school library make sure you read this book - it is fabulous and most certainly deserves your attention. There is something truly powerful about reading a book set during a terrible world event which is told through the eyes of a child. 

Adapted for young readers from her critically acclaimed adult novel, Sara Haddad's middle-grade story about a child's experience of the Nakba is a lyrical ode to sovereignty, freedom and homecoming.⁠ How could a new country be put inside a country that was already there? Where would the new country go? Where did it come from? What would happen to the people who were already there?⁠ It’s 1948 and Nabila Yasmeen lives a happy life in her village in Palestine. She plays in the hills with her friend Khalil and climbs high in the olive trees to pick the sweetest fruit. But when bombs start falling, Nabila and her family are forced to leave. Where will they go?⁠ Embellished with beautiful line illustrations by renowned Palestinian artist Baraa Awoor, 'The Sunbird' is the poignant story of a little girl who just wants to go home.⁠ Instagram

Publisher blurb: It’s 1948 and Nabila Yasmeen lives a happy life in her village in Palestine. She plays in the hills with her friend Khalil and climbs high in the olive trees to pick the sweetest fruit. But when bombs start falling, Nabila and her family are forced to leave. Where will they go?

Here is the original adult edition:

The adult book The Sunbird was originally self-published and then 'discovered' by UQP

Read more here and here is a review and there are more details here too.

The Sunbird discusses themes of migration, post-colonial dispossession 

and displacement, truth-telling, protest, community, identity, belonging and culture.

I had not heard of the Palestinian artist Baraa Awoor. I really like the cover of The Sunbird but I do hope this book, as I have said, reaches older readers even though the cover gives the impression of a book for a younger audience and the publisher suggests 8+. I think this book will better suit readers aged 10+. The small black and white drawings scattered throughout the book are also perfect.

You can read an extract from The Sunbird (young readers edition) here

Baraa Awoor is a self-taught, award-winning illustrator from Gaza, Palestine, currently based in Cairo and holding a UAE Golden Residency. With a background in education and years of artistic practice, she brings stories to life through acrylics, oil pastels, colored pencils, and mixed media and collage. Her work has been exhibited internationally, with recognition at prestigious events such as the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the Sharjah Reading Festival, and exhibitions in Geneva. Baraa has led international workshops on illustrating children’s books in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and beyond, sharing her creative process with young artists. Her books have been translated into several languages, including Italian, Portuguese, Korean, Turkish, and English. Mama's Scent is her first book to be published in the United States. Simon and Schuster

Companion books:

Oranges in no Man's Land

The Kites are Flying

The Key from Spain

I plan to look for these books - two picture books and one YA novel which link with The Sunbird.

These Olive Trees Kirkus Review; Homeland Kirkus Review

Where the Streets had a name Kirkus Review

The Midnight Chew by Sally Morgan illustrated by Karen Blair

This book is light weight fun for very young readers who enjoy rhyming stories and who are already fans of Hairy Maclary - a series you should discover if you haven't already while your child or young reading companion is very young. There are tons of books in the popular series by Lynley Dodd.

The dogs in this book - The Midnight Chew - do have very appeal names - Skippy Gillespie and Boofa Boy Jones. Skippy is a tiny dog with a secretly stashed bone. Boofa is a big dog who wants that bone. Is there a way they can both have this prize?

There are teaching notes for The Midnight Chew on the publisher page - Fremantle Press (Thanks for my review copy).

Sally Morgan was born in Perth, in 1951. She has published books for both adults and children, including her acclaimed autobiography, My Place. She has also established a national reputation as an artist and has works in many private and public collections. I loved her verse novel Sister Heart (for readers aged 10+) and her series illustrated by Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr. 

Karen Blair is an award-winning Western Australian author and illustrator of nearly 20 children’s books. Her books have been published in eight countries, and she has illustrated for some of Australia’s most acclaimed authors. She has worked as a primary art teacher and creates books from her home studio in Fremantle. Karen Blair talks about her book here. 

Here are two previous books I have talked about with illustrations by Karen Blair.

Hello from Nowhere

With Nan

If you want to explore other books about garbage dumps, try to find this one - it is a fabulous one to read aloud.

Dougal the Garbage Dump Bear

You might also try to find this book:

Wishbone

Helme Heine 4 April 1941 – 20 November 2025

I saw a post by Betsy Bird sharing the authors and illustrators who we lost in 2025. One of them was Helme Heine. I have loved illustrations by Helme Heine ever since I saw Friends. Here is my previous post about his book The Most Wonderful Egg in the World.

His most iconic creation, the trio of unlikely friends—a pig, a rooster, and a mouse—captured the essence of loyalty and adventure, selling millions and inspiring adaptations worldwide. What made Heine notable was not just his commercial success, with over 50 books translated into 35 languages, but his ability to weave profound life lessons into playful narratives, earning accolades like the European Children’s Book Award and multiple New York Times nods for best-illustrated works.

Helme Heine was born in Germany, until 1977 he lived in South Africa and then after returning to Germany he finally settled in New Zealand in the late 1980s.

Helme Heine wrote his very first children's book in 1975. It was called "The secret of the elephant's poohs." The book was published in 1976 and received an honorable mention at a big children's book fair in Italy. His first really big success came in 1977 with the book "The Pigs' Wedding." In 1977, he moved back to Germany with his family. He went on to publish more than 50 children's books. These books have been translated into over 35 different languages, reaching children all over the world. Two of his books, "Mr. Miller the Dog" (1980) and "The Marvelous Journey through the Night" (1991), were even named among the "Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year" by The New York Times. His most famous book, "Friends," was published in 1982. It teaches important lessons about friendship. Source

Here is a sweet image I found on Instagram:

Image source: Helme Heine Art

Every year, a new family calendar by Helme Heine was published with unpublished motifs.

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

As this story opens Lizzie boarding a ship bound for the USA - she is being sent to stay with her wealthy grandmother. Trouble is Lizzie has NO intention of taking this trip. Her mother is missing and Lizzie needs to stay in England and find her. Yes there is a war unfolding and yes it might be dangerous but Lizzie knows her mother is not dead, as she has been told, and that she needs to find her brother and then solve the mystery of her mothers disappearance. The opening scene where she tricks her chaperone and gets off the boat would be a fabulous way to introduce this book to your library group. 

Lizzie has such a cheeky and distinctive voice in this story which is told with alternating voices. I Ioved the scene where Lizzie 'tricks' the chaperone for the second time and also her unfolding relationship with Colin - son of the innkeeper. 

You can 'hear' Lizzie in these three quotes:

I prefer being straightforward. My older brother, Jakob, used to be straightforward. Before Willa disappeared, that is. Willa is our mother. Killed in a bomb blast, they told us. A falsity I refuse to accept. I no longer refer to her as Mother because she’s not currently here to “mother” me. So it’s easier, and hurts less, to call her by her first name. Precocious? Probably. Willa is American. From a posh place called Cleveland. Some say that explains why I’m so straightforward, because I’m half American. They say the word “American” as if it’s scandalous. I love that. Willa loved it too.

“I don’t know what’s being done here, sir. But from the look of the wallpaper, this room has not long been a war office. From the annoyance in your tone, you are not welcoming visitors this evening. My apologies for that. I’d be grateful if you could provide a bit more information or clues to solve the puzzle,” I reply.

“Perfection? But perfection is boring and forgettable. It’s the imperfections that I find interesting.” “Goodness, you sound so adult. Are you a philosopher, Elizabeth?” “I prefer Lizzie, if that’s all right with you. And heavens no, I’m not a philosopher. I just have the awful habit of speaking whatever pops into my head. I think it’s because I’m half American.”

And here is the voice of Jakob:

Am I in charge of her now? No, I can’t be. I’ve got work to do. More important work than I ever imagined doing. There’s no way I can look after Lizzie at the same time. I can’t even talk to her. Can’t answer the storm of questions I know is coming. I wish I could just turn to her and say, “Look, Lizzie, I’m a cryptanalyst. A code breaker. It’s all very hush-hush.” Sounds ridiculous, I know. A line from a bad play. But the thing is, if I told her the truth, how I got into all of this, she’d accuse me of exactly that—imagining myself in some far-fetched spy drama.

The Bletchley Riddle has almost 400 pages and 94 chapters - but the action just races along. I found myself reading this book deep into the night and again early the next morning. I highly recommend this one for readers aged 10+.

Publisher blurb: It is the summer of 1940. The world is at war. These days, you don’t know who you can trust or who might be a secret spy… Maths whizz Jakob Novis has been recruited to the secret codebreaking centre at Bletchley Park. As Jakob works to crack the Nazi’s Enigma cipher, his younger sister Lizzie is busy on an undercover mission of her own: to find their mother. Filled with codes to decipher and mysteries to unravel, this is the unputdownable historical adventure that will have you on the edge of your seats.

Take a look at the official trailer. 

A rich, enthralling historical mystery that engages and educates. Kirkus

In a compelling mystery, written by two award-winning authors, and told in two voices, the dark cloud of their mom’s disappearance hangs over vivid, well-researched depictions of the Bletchley Park code-breaking operation. The story incorporates many of the significant, real-life, historic heroes who, together, arguably shortened WWII by years. It also depicts life in London at the onset of the war. It’s topped off perfectly with a sweet dash of adolescent crushing. A book and a hug

It was good to know a little about the circumstances of this story prior to reading The Bletchley Riddle. I had already read I Spy: A Bletchley Park Mystery by Rhian Tracey and seen the movie The Imitation Game an Oscar-nominated movie starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley from 2015 and also the television series The Bletchley Circle. I have now discovered the I Spy is the first book in a trilogy - Book 1: I, Spy: A Bletchley Park Mystery (2023) Book 2: Hide and Seek: A Bletchley Park Mystery (2024) Book 3: Wink, Murder: a Bletchley Park Mystery (2025). I am not sure if I have seen the other movie Enigma staring Kate Winslet from 2001. 

It is amazing and somewhat exciting to think about the work of code breakers - even though the circumstances in this story are based on real life and of course this is about life and death for thousands of innocent citizens during World War II. The codes themselves were so complex it seems amazing that they were ever cracked. Those men and women who worked at Bletchley had such brilliant minds and amazing perseverance. 

Image source: Bletchley Park

This book is a perfect blend of adventure, characters you come to care deeply about and real events. Here are two quotes about the work at Bletchley: 

The work undertaken at Bletchley was extremely secret, with staff forbidden from discussing their roles with anyone outside the park – even their own families. The need for secrecy was so great that some Bletchley veterans never revealed the true nature of their wartime service, even decades later.

Work at Bletchley Park began in the Mansion and its outbuildings, with a staff of around 150 people. As more and more people arrived to join the codebreaking operations, the various sections began to move into large pre-fabricated wooden huts set up on the lawns of the Park. For security reasons, the various sections were known only by their hut numbers. The first operational break into Enigma came around the 23 January 1940, when the team working under Dilly Knox, with the mathematicians John Jeffreys, Peter Twinn and Alan Turing, unravelled the German Army administrative key that became known at Bletchley Park as ‘The Green’. Encouraged by this success, the Codebreakers managed to crack the ‘Red’ key used by the Luftwaffe (German air force). In addition to German codes, Italian and later Japanese systems were also broken. Source Bletchley Park

Further Reading

History Tools: Uncovering the Enigma: The Untold Story of Bletchley Park‘s Codebreaking Triumphs

Visiting Bletchley Park - this site contains a wealth of information - well worth a deep dive

History Learning

Warfare History Network

Companion book:

Max in the House of Spies

The voice of Lizzie also reminded me of this book:

Faceles

In her review Ms Yingling mentions this book as another title to explore about the code breakers of WWII.

Read more on the author web page

You could use The Bletchley Riddle as a way to talk with your students about writing effective descriptions - here are a couple of terrific examples:

The man looks Jakob up and down and so do I. He’s taller than I remember but still has a boyish face. His trousers and jacket are wrinkled. Tie poorly knotted. Faint gray crescents ring his tired brown eyes, and his bedraggled curls are longer than usual. Has he been sleeping on the street?

A tall, narrow figure in a trench coat and hat stands alone on the moonlit platform. He starts toward us with the awkward gait of a marionette. He inhales on his cigarette, and the glowing tip illuminates his face. Something about him resembles my old doll with the smashed glass eye, or a curious illustration from a medical encyclopedia. I like him instantly.

A man in a tweed suit stands alone and sock-footed in the grass. His eyes are closed and his face lifts toward the sun. He wears an apricot bow tie which, by my estimation, makes him very approachable.

Nana in the City by Lauren Castillo

"I went to stay with my Nana at her new apartment in the city. 

I love my nana but I don't love the city."

At its heart this simple picture book is about point of view. The little boy finds the city is loud and scary. But his nana says it is wonderful - bustling, booming and extraordinary.

Nana has such wisdom. She makes the little boy a cape and the next day she shows him that the city is not at all scary because he can now be brave in his fabulous cape. Now slow down and take time to really look into the illustrations because, as is the way with the best picture books, at this point the pictures go way beyond the text. 

You will love sharing this book with your young reading companion and a bonus they might hear/discover a wonderful new word - extraordinary. Nana in the city was a Newbery honour title in 2015. Unfortunately, this book is outrageously expensive here in Australia at over AUS$42. I borrowed my copy from a well-stocked school library - they were lucky to purchase this book back in 2015 for AUS$20. 

What does the Caldecott mean to you?  It means so much to know that the committee felt my book was worthy of such an incredible honor. I am just so thankful. Now, because of this silver sticker, many more children will experience NANA—Maybe even while sitting on the lap of their own Nana—and that blows me away. This book was written as a tribute to my grandmother, who I traveled to New York to visit during my childhood summers, and to my late editor, Frances Foster, who was like family to me in New York City. 

Throughout, Castillo’s soft, warmly colored art expresses the child’s changing feelings about the city while also depicting the characters’ close bond. Kirkus

Publisher blurb:  In this magical picture book, a young boy spends an overnight visit with his nana and is frightened to find that the city where she lives is filled with noise and crowds and scary things. But then Nana makes him a special cape to help him be brave, and soon the everyday sights, sounds, and smells of the city are not scary—but wonderful. The succinct text is paired with watercolor illustrations that capture all the vitality, energy, and beauty of the city.

If you read this book with a preschool or Kindy group you could compare the themes of Nana in the City with Town Mouse and Country Mouse. I have put a few picture book versions in this post. And then you can read the sequel Nana in the Country. Here is the web site for Lauren Castillo.

This is a Story; Our friend Hedgehog

See lots more Lauren Castillo books here.

Here is the blurb for Nana in the Country: When Nana comes from the city to visit her grandson in the country, the boy is so excited to teach her about all the wonderful things he does on the farm where he lives—feeding the ducks, milking the cow, even tending to bees. But to his disappointment, Nana already seems to know how to do just about everything. And she isn’t the least bit nervous about picking up bugs or easing a hen aside to collect an egg. But then a storm hits in the night, and the boy must take the lead and make sure the animals are safe and dry. And it turns out there are many more unique-to-the-country adventures to surprise his beloved Nana with.

Words, Words, Words by Mary O'Neill illustrated by Judy Piussi-Campbell

This poem is entitled The Wonderful Words an it is the final poem in this book

This is that strange week between Christmas and New Year. Nothing much is happening so I decided to empty all my bookshelves, do some culling and then re-organise everything. YES I do have heaps of books and YES this was a bit overwhelming but I am now nearly finished - just one huge shelf to go.

Along the way I found this book from 1966. It is an old library book that I rescued decades ago. It is in fairly poor shape but it is a treasure. As a child I adored the famous poetry book by Mary O'Neill Hailstones and Halibut bones. Mary O'Neill was born on February 16, 1905 in New York City. Mary died on January 2, 1990 in Yuma, Arizona, USA. Judy Piussi-Campbell also illustrated Big Red Hen also by Mary O'Neill. 

Here is another poem from Words, Words, Words:

FEELINGS ABOUT WORDS by Mary O'Neill

Some words clink

As ice in drink

Some move with grace

A dance, a lace.

Some sound thin:

Wail, scream and pin

Some words are squat:

A mug, a pot,

And some are plump,

Fat, round and dump.

Some words are light:

Drift, lift, and bright

A few are small

A, is and all.

And some are thick,

Glue, paste and brick.

Some words are sad:

“I never had…”

And others are gay:

Joy, spin and play.

Some words are sick:

Stab, scratch and nick.

Some words are hot:

Fire, flame and shot.

Some words are sharp,

Sword, point and carp.

And some alert

Glint, Glance and flirt.

Some words are lazy:

Saunter, hazy.

And some words preen

Pride, pomp and Queen.

Some words are quick,

A jerk, a flick.

Some words are slow:

Lag, stop and grow,

While others poke

As ox with yoke.

Some words can fly-

There’s wind, there’s high;

And some words cry:

“Goodbye…

Goodbye…”

Here is the 1966 Kirkus review:

Sixty some odd rhymes, mostly short, many devoted to driving home the wandering rules of English grammar. Teachers of the intermediate grades, faced with the frustration of drilling this coded illogic have always grabbed at mnemonic aids, visual gimmicks, chants, etc. In Words Words Words, they will find some carefully constructed props and prods to memory with built-in examples of syntax, punctuation, and spelling. (It has) a range of style and a quiet humor all its own. Some of the poems that limn the beauty and magic and pleasure of words are as good as any that Mrs. O'Neill provided for Hailstones and Halibut Bones.