Reading Australia celebrates World Book and Copyright Day 2024 with latest resource round-up
April 23, 2024
Happy World Book and Copyright Day! Today we are taking part in the worldwide event, led by UNESCO, that stands up for creativity, diversity, and equal access to knowledge.
Since 1995, the world has come together on 23 April to celebrate the power of books and the importance of copyright.
On this occasion, we’d like to share our corner of the reading world with a round-up of the top trending resources on Reading Australia for Primary and Secondary in Term 1.
PRIMARY
Black Cockatoo by Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler (published by Magabala Books)
Book cover courtesy of Magabala Books
Black Cockatoo was the first book written by Jaru/Kija man Carl Merrison and English teacher Hakea Hustler. It follows a 13-year-old Jaru girl who cares for a dirrarn (black cockatoo) that was injured by her older brother.
Black Cockatoo is perfect for exploring themes around family and community, connection to culture, and the power of kindness. Reading Australia will also be creating a resource for the sequel, Dirrarn, published in 2023.
A Reading Australia classic, the Black Cockatoo teaching resource has been downloaded an impressive 22,702 times since it was first published in February 2020!
The All New Must Have Orange 430 by Michael Speechley (published by Viking, PRH Australia)
Book cover courtesy of PRH Australia
Michael Speechley is a Western Australian author/illustrator who has also taught high school art. His picture book The All New Must Have Orange 430 is an amusing story about our obsession with ‘stuff’.
This book offers a great introduction to conscious consumerism and sustainability. The teaching resource explores unique linguistic and visual features like fonts and nonsense words, as well as how products are advertised to children.
A recent addition to Reading Australia, the resource for this cautionary tale on how much we consume has been downloaded 4,620 times since August 2022!
Sister Heart by Sally Morgan (published by Fremantle Press)
Book cover courtesy of Fremantle Press
Sister Heart is a powerful verse novel about an Aboriginal girl who is taken from her home in north-west Western Australia. It is written by Sally Morgan, who is descended from the Palyku people of the Pilbara region.
Reading Australia’s resource has been written for Year 4 but would also suit more mature learners. Students will experiment with free verse poetry and think deeply about the experiences of the Stolen Generations.
The Reading Australia resource for Sister Heart has only been available since October 2023, but has already racked up an impress 3,133 downloads!
SECONDARY
Blueback by Tim Winton (published by Penguin, PRH Australia)
Book cover courtesy of PRH Australia
Another Western Australian author, Tim Winton needs no introduction! Blueback is the timeless tale of Abel Jackson, who grows up with his mother and a special blue groper in his hometown of Longboat Bay.
Blueback is one of Reading Australia’s most popular resources of all time and is now compatible with Version 9.0 of the Australian Curriculum! There are a range of tasks to engage students, including a fable, a literary mashup, and a podcast.
This resource is closely approaching 40,000 hits since its publication in February 2020, with a whopping 38,877 downloads!
Inside My Mother by Ali Cobby Eckermann (published by Giramondo Publishing)
Book cover courtesy of Giramondo Publishing
Inside My Mother is an autobiographical poetry collection by Ali Cobby Eckermann, a proud Yankunytjatjara/Kokatha woman from South Australia. She uses poetry as a means of healing from past injustices.
Inside My Mother is heavily informed by Eckermann’s experiences of separation and reunion. Students will embark on a close study of the text to explore how her culture and personal history have informed her writing.
Inside My Mother is suitable for Senior Secondary and the teaching resource on Reading Australia has been downloaded 4,960 times since first upload in January 2022!
Two Wolves by Tristan Bancks (published by Puffin, PRH Australia)
Book cover courtesy of PRH Australia
In Two Wolves, Ben Silver – a boy who dreams of becoming a detective – is forced to go on the run with his family. This is a nail-biting adventure from one of Australia’s most popular writers for kids and teens, Tristan Bancks.
Two Wolves is ideal for exploring conflict, suspense, and the concept of whether people choose to be good or bad. Tasks for this resource include planning (and, if time allows, producing) a vlog and a stop motion animation.
Another newbie on the Reading Australia platform, the Two Wolves resource has hit the ground running with 2,342 downloads since September 2023!
Copyright Agency’s Reading Australia initiative has supported the teaching and reading of Australian literature in schools since 2013. Each year our Cultural Fund allocates around $100,000 to the initiative, which publishes quality and insightful resources to support English and literacy teachers and teacher librarians in bringing Australian stories into classrooms.