Often the picture books chosen for the shortlist are for an older audience than the students I teach, but this year that is not the case and many of them could be shared with them. We Live in a Bus certainly could be. This is the story of a family on a trip around Australia who travel by converted bus rather than camper van or caravan. Of course this has been done before, but that doesn't distract from this book. It is fun and offers a different perspective.
Australia already has two very iconic picture books about travelling around Australia, Possum Magic and Are We There Yet? and I think Dirt by Sea deserves to be added to this list.
Explore our wonderful coastline and the joy of a family road-trip with Dad and Daisy! Along the way, they will discover all about Australia and much, much more. Daisy lives in inland Australia with her dad and her grandparents, loving the red dirt land around her. But when her dad realises she's never seen the beach, they set off on a trip you won't want to miss.
The themes highlighted by We Live in a Bus are easy to highlight in a book display and many of these books would make ideal companion texts (see the four below). Collect together books about things you would see travelling Australia, books about camping and caravan parks, books about travelling with family for an extended time.
This book follows a family travelling around Australia in their caravan, visiting each state and territory along the way. They meet many different people, spot wildlife, reconnect with nature and enjoy time as a family on the road.
• An Amazing Australian Roadtrip by Jackie Hosking and Lesley Vamod
A family visits every state and territory of Australia, looking for the perfect picnic spot and experiencing all the landscapes, climates and wonders that Australia has to offer along the way.
Mum and Dad told me they've got a wild plan . . . We're exploring Australia in a snug little van. Ride along with Hunter as she discovers beaches and billabongs, paddocks and plains, forests and dugouts, and even underwater worlds. A big adventure awaits!
• Highway by Nadia Wheatley and Andrew McLean
Dad's a truckie and he, Mum and the kids are going on a very different holiday: a trip down the highway on an overnight run. They're even taking their swimmers and towels! This book captures all the wonder of a child's journey of discovery, and at the same time touches on a range of environmental issues.
Then collect these to display:
This Our Australia series by Phil Kettle has twelve books, each about a place in Australia and they provide just the right amount of information about places travelled to.
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