Biodiversity Book List
Book recommendations – Biodiversity
We have grouped books into topics that align with our four pillars of learning – Biodiversity, Food Production, First Nations perspectives and Waste Management.
Know about a book that you think should be included in our reading lists? There’s no better recommendation for educators than from like-minded peers. Please submit your recommendation here.
Title: Bilby Secrets
Author(s): Edel Wignell & Mark Jackson
Age group: 5-9
Description: A narrative non-fiction picture book on the bilby, an Australian marsupial. The sun beats down on the red earth of the Australian desert. It is a hostile place to live in. But deep underground, a mother bilby and her baby share the secrets of surviving in this harsh environment.
Title: Chris Humfrey’s Coolest Creepy Crawlies
Author(s): Chris Humfrey
Age group: 5-7
Description: Zoologist Chris Humfrey explores the captivating world of Australia’s remarkable invertebrates. This book provides insights into each creature’s classification, adaptations, habitat, environment, ecological niche, and includes plenty of interesting facts. Enjoy getting up close and personal with Rhinoceros Beetles, Macleay’s Spectre Stick Insect, Monteith’s Leaf Insect, Freshwater Yabbies, the Emperor Gum Moth and more of our essential, beautiful and intriguing near and remote neighbours. While invertebrates might not receive the same attention as larger, more charismatic animals, they are essential for maintaining healthy and balanced ecosystems. You’ll be surprised to find that some of these fascinating creatures might even be living in your own backyard.
Title: The Little Corroboree Frog
Author(s): Tracey Holton-Ramirez and Angela Ramirez
Age group: Lower Primary
Description: If you ever go for a walk in the Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales, you might come across a small, ground-dwelling frog with black and yellow markings. This striking creature is the Southern Corroboree frog, an endangered Australian species. This book tells the story of a corroboree frog showing a human boy the danger his family is in because of humans. Importantly, the book makes clear that the threat is not only rubbish and pollution, but climate change too, and the story ends with the human boy wondering about long-term solutions to keep the frogs safe.
Title: Girls Who Looked Under Rocks: The Lives of Six Pioneering Naturalists
Author(s): Jeannine Atkins
Age group: 10+ years
Description: For pre-teen or adolescents, take a look at this empowering, inspiring chapter book. It portrays the youths and careers of six remarkable women whose curiosity about nature fueled a passion to steadfastly overcome obstacles to careers in traditionally men-only occupations. The six — Maria Merian (b.1647), Anna Comstock (b.1854), Frances Hamerstrom (b.1907), Rachel Carson (b.1907), Miriam Rothschild (b.1908), and Jane Goodall (b.1934) — all became renowned scientists, artists and writers. A wonderful resource for young researchers and biographers, these stories can be a starting point for issues of gender, science, and the environment.
Title: Benny Bungara’s Big Bush Clean-Up
Author(s): Sally Morgan and Ambelin Kwaymullina
Age group: 3+
Description: Rubbish is causing a lot of trouble in our bush. What can we do about it?’ This is the key question posed in this book aimed at early readers. When Benny Bungarra’s friends become injured by rubbish dropped in their bush by careless humans, he decides to host a Big Bush Clean-up. The story makes clear that human items like plastic bottles, fishing line and broken glass can hurt the animals who call the bush their home. Benny Bungarra and his friends suggest ways that human-readers can help make the natural world a safe place for everybody!
Title: Diary of a Wombat
Author(s): Jackie French
Age group: 3+
Description: Monday Morning: Slept. Afternoon: Slept. Evening: Ate. Scratched. Night: Ate.A typical day. Don′t be fooled. This wombat leads a very busy and demanding life. She wrestles unknown creatures, runs her own digging business, and most difficult of all – trains her humans. She teaches them when she would like carrots, when she would like oats and when she would like both at the same time. But these humans are slow learners. Find out how one wombat – between scratching, sleeping and eating – manages to fit the difficult job of training humans into her busy schedule.
Title: Rivertime
Author(s): Trace Bella
Age group: 8-12
Description: A gentle and beautiful book about slowing down and growing up, set on Australia’s Glenelg River and featuring a ten-year-old boy and his uncle. A tender and beautifully illustrated tale of a boy and his bird-watching uncle, on a paddling trip on Australia’s Glenelg River. A story about slowing down, growing up, and connecting with the land and its creatures.
Title: The Last Dance
Author(s): Sally Morgan
Age group: 3+
Description: Everyone needs a home, but some Australian creatures are losing theirs. From sandstone ridges to tropical beaches, from coastal woodlands to alpine streams, habitats are shrinking and changing. The animals in this book need help, and we are the only ones who can give it.
Title: A Shorebird Flying Adventure
Author(s): Milly Formby and Jackie Kerin
Age group: 6-9
Description: Strap in for a flying adventure, following the amazing journeys of Australia’s migratory shorebirds. Join Milly on her microlight adventure and discover how amazing and awesome migratory shorebirds are! In A Shorebird Flying Adventure you’ll take a trip to the Arctic tundra and back. On the way you’ll meet the birds who travel phenomenal distances every year and explore their precious wetland habitats and breeding grounds. Learn fascinating facts about their diet and find out Milly’s top tips to tell one species from another. Grab your binoculars, hop on board and let’s go bird watching!
Title: To the Top End – Our Trip Across Australia
Author(s): Roland Harvey
Age group: 5-10
Description: Henry, Penny, Frankie, Mum and Dad embark on their most exciting adventure yet – from Tassie to the very tip of the Top End. Travel with them on the ferry across Bass Strait to the mainland, through Kelly country, along the Murray, into the Flinders Ranges, underground at Coober Pedy, overhead at the Olgas, overland to the Great Sandy Desert, with the fishes at the Great Barrier Reef, deep into the Daintree, out to the islands, kayaking at Kakadu and finally frolicking on the beach at the very top. Then go back and see if you can find a football in the illustrations on each page. Hours of fun for the whole family.
Title: Where the Lyrebird Lives
Author(s): Vikki Conley
Age group: Pre-school and Junior Primary
Description: High in the mountains through the sleepy clouds.Deep in the forest past the chiming birds.Will we see the lyrebird? I don’t know. Tip-toe, tip-toe. The beauty of the Australian rainforest and the magic of family-time come together in this lyrical and delightful story of intergenerational connection, habitat and adventure.
Title: I Believe in Rainbows
Author(s): Steve Baines
Age group: Primary
Description: These children’s books are Australian written, illustrated and printed about Australia Freshwater Native fish. They detail the adventures and experiences Rodney Rainbowfish and his very real Creek community face each and every day. Of particular interest is the role Landcare plays in protecting our aquatic waterways. They make ideal presents, and it is worthy of note that they fit into the Australian School Curriculum and the National Early Year’s Learning framework (Kindergartens). Some of the proceeds from book sales go to assist local Landcare groups.
Title: Sea Country
Author(s): Aunty Patsy Cameron & Lisa Kennedy
Age group: Up to 9
Description: In this delightful children’s picture book, Aunty Patsy Cameron generously shares the stories and traditions from her family’s seasonal island life in Tasmania. With evocative text and stunning illustrations, Sea Country lets the reader know when to pick ripe wild cherries, when the moon (mutton) birds fly home and how the nautilus shells smell like the deepest oceans.
Aunty Patsy Cameron, who is a descendant of the Pairebeenne Trawlwoolway clan in Tasmania, weaves a cultural homage to life on Flinder’s Island, with stories of collecting shells, fishing in wooden dinghies with long oars, and watching clouds snake their way down Mt Munro. Alongside this tender story, Lisa Kennedy reveals the love and connection to sea and Country through her intricate collages and delicate illustrations that sing country alive.
If you have a book recommendation to add to the list, please email: juniorlandcare@landcareaustralia.com.au