AustLit

'Helen Milroy's latest instalment in her bestselling First Nations Bush series features Australian bugs in all their hairy, scary glory!

'It's time to get outside and discover the amazing world around us in this stunning new picture book from bestselling Indigenous creator Helen Milroy. This colourful array of Australian insects is sure to delight little ones captivated by all things creepy and crawly. From spiky stick insects to hairy spiders, and from blood-sucking mosquitos to dung-eating blowflies and feasting wasps, this is a fun and easy-to-read book introducing tiny readers to tiny bush critters.' (Publication summary)

'Utterly charming! Penguin Oh Penguin is a gentle early childhood story about a penguin that runs away to be at sea. Rhyme is one of the building blocks of language learning, and this prosaic title highlights friendship, hope and home. The lilting rhythm of the verse comes through and is an absolute delight to read aloud. Perfect for toddlers and little wrigglers, this book will also appeal to older children who will love reading it themselves, or who may want to sing along.

'‘I wrote Penguin Oh Penguin for my children over sixty years ago. I was always making up stories and songs for them but this one was the favourite. It came about when I bought a little black velvet penguin toy that we played with at bedtime.’ – Gladys Milroy' (Publication summary)

'From the bestselling Indigenous creator Helen Milroy comes a new adventure about a girl with an incredible gift.

'Crow Baby was born with two spirits – one crow, and one human. Spending her time living across two worlds, she is content within her crow clan and her human family. But one day, a time of crisis arrives, and Crow Baby must make a difficult decision in order to save her families. With the help of her two spirits, she embarks on a journey that celebrates the beauty of diversity and the importance of making difficult decisions.

'Crow Baby is a story that will capture the imagination of both young and older readers, inspiring them to embrace their own unique gifts. Featuring stunning illustrations and easy-to-read text, this picture book will take you on a whimsical adventure into the heart of First Nations storytelling.' (Publication summary)

'Can Black Boss Cocky and White Boss Cocky stop fighting long enough to notice the Bush Mob’s ancient forest is in danger of going up in flames?

'Tales from the Bush Mob is a series of books about the Bush Mob, a group of animals who work together to solve problems. 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

'In this fourth book in the series, you will meet the cockatoo clans who are too busy fighting to notice when a huge fire breaks out. Luckily two mother cockatoos and their sons seek help from the Bush Mob Council. Everyone works together to save the ancient forest and finally there is peace among the cockatoos.

'Filled with gorgeous illustrations and exciting tales, this will be a popular book for the whole family.' (Publication summary)

'Little birds, big birds, all different kinds. How many bush birds can you find?'

'From curious blue wrens to booming emus, and from feasting lorikeets to eagles soaring, Bush Birds by Helen Milroy is a fun and lively read with bold illustrations designed to celebrate the birds in our bush.' (Publication summary)

'The characters in Bush Mob Counting are from the ‘Tales from the Bush Mob’ Series of books about a group of animals Eagle, Sugar Glider, Bat, Platypus, Koala, Wombat, Kookaburra, Echidna and Kangaroo, who work together to solve problems. Each book shares a rich landscape of colours, characters and places. Bush Mob Counting is a fun and colourful way for young children to learn how to count to 10. Milroy’s famous animal characters are sure to educate and entertain children of all ages.' (Publication summary)

'From the author of the Backyard series, Helen Milroy's latest picture book invites readers to realise the magic of the stars.

'Owl loved the sparkle of the stars. He would sit out on his tree at dusk and wait for them to appear.

'One evening, Owl became worried. His favourite little star had not shown herself. Owl searched far and wide. Where could Little Star be?'  (Publication summary)

'Tales from the Bush Mob is a series of books about the Bush Mob, a group of animals who work together to solve problems. Each book shares a rich landscape of characters and places, including Lofty the emu, Willy-willy Wagtail, Eagle, Sugar Glider, Bat, Platypus, Koala, Wombat, Kookaburra, Echidna, 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.

'The Sweetest Egg of All is the third book in the series, and follows Gecko, Thorny Devil and Scrubby Python, who admire Bungarra and want to find a special birthday present for their friend. When they hear from King George Brown (KGB) that Willy-Wagtail’s egg is the sweetest egg of all, they hatch a plan to steal an egg for Bungarra’s birthday. But KGB and King Toad have different plans for the sweetest egg of all and now Dingo and the Bush Mob go into action to save Willy Wagtail’s egg.

'Filled with gorgeous illustrations and exciting tales, this will be a popular book for the whole family.' (Publication summary)

'From the author of Backyard Birds and Backyard Bugs, Helen Milroy’s latest picture book, Backyard Beasties, is designed to teach us all about the croaking, barking, screeching, mewling creatures that share our homes. From beastie besties, like the Pomeranian and the pussycat, to clucking chickens and licking lizards, the jewel-like illustrations will make this book a joy to share.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'Tales from the Bush Mob is a series of books about the Bush Mob, a group of animals who work together to solve problems. The first in the series Willy-willy Wagtail, introduced Willy Wagtail and Gusto the Wind, who save the animals from a bushfire. Each book shares a rich landscape of characters and places, including Lofty the emu, Eagle, Sugar Glider, Bat, Platypus, Koala, Wombat, Kookaburra, Echidna, 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.'

The Emu Who Ran Through the Sky is the second book in the series. Lofty, a young emu desperately wants to win a big emu race, but he is slow and clumsy – and his first race ends in disaster! But, Lofty realises there is another way to win the race. He enlists the help of his Bush Mob friends Eagle, Sugar Glider and Bat – who are all excellent fliers – to teach him to fly. But it is Bush Mob’s inventor, Platypus, who designs the Feathery Paraglider that allows Lofty to win the day!  (Publication summary)

'From beautiful butterflies to kaleidoscopic Christmas beetles, First Nations author and illustrator Helen Milroy returns to the backyard with a picture book designed to teach kids (and their handlers) all about the scurrying, scuttling, scooting, buzzing, zooming splendour of insects.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'Willy-willy Wagtail is the first book in the series and goes back to before Bush Mob get together and nobody understands each other - and there are lots of fights. One day there is a terrible bush fire and Willy Wagtail, Gusto (the wind) and Crow get all the Bush Mob to work together to save the community.

'For the first time, everyone understands each other and Dingo takes charge and leads all the animals to safety. Dingo is now Boss Dog and is head of the Bush Council, with Willy Wagtail and Crow - the Bush Mob is formed.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'This boldly illustrated work from Indigenous creator Helen Milroy celebrates the birds in our backyards. From laughing kookaburras to prancing mudlarks, this is a fun and lively read for the very young.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'From a falling star to a lonely whale, an entertaining lizard to an enterprising penguin, these Indigenous stories are full of wonder, adventure and enduring friendships. Told in the style of traditional teaching stories, these animal tales take young readers on adventures of self-discovery and fulfilment.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.