Book Week Early Childhood Shortlist: How to Move a Zoo (Part 2)

Display 3. Picture books set in Sydney Because How to Move a Zoo  is set in Sydney, this is a good time to get other books set in Sydney off the shelves and into students' hands. Some of the books below are useful to locate landmarks in Sydney, some are just fun stories and some like this book give insights into historical events in Sydney.

• Hello Sydney  by Megan McKean

Discover 15 of Sydney's most iconic locations, with the help of six cheeky seagulls, on this look-and-find adventure. From Taronga Zoo to Bondi Beach, there are delightful quirks of the city to spot on each page,

•  Alphabetical Sydney A-Z by Hilary Bell and Antonia Presenti

Celebrates Sydney in all its diversity - from A to Z.

• Found in Sydney by Joanne O'Callaghan and Kori Song

From Bondi Beach to the Opera House, there's so much to explore in spectacular Sydney! 

The Opera House

• Sidney Opera Mouse  by Graham Hocking and Inky Stone

• Opera House Mouse  by Jean Chapman and Tony Oliver

• Jorn's Magnificent Imagination  by Coral Bass and Nicky Johnston

The true story of Jørn Utzon, the architect of the world-renowned Sydney Opera House.

• Tubowgule: A Sydney Opera House History   by Melissa-Jane Fogarty

The Sydney Opera House is an Australian icon and a building recognised all around the world, but the land on which it stands has a long history. We step back in time to when Tubowgule was a ceremonial place for the Gadi people and we follow along as the land is claimed by the colonisers

Bondi Beach

Hyde Park

• The Tram to Bondi Beach by Libby Hathorn and Julie Vivas

A story of a young boy's adventures working as a paperboy on the busy trams, travelling to Bondi Beach.

• Millicent  by Jeannie Baker

Story about an old lady’s daily wanderings through Hyde Park to feed the pigeons.

The Botanic Gardens

•  Alexander's Outing by Pamela Allen

'Stay close, take care,' quacked Alexander's mother. But Alexander was a wayward duckling - he straggled behind ... and disappeared down a deep dark hole ...

The State Library of New South Wales and its statue of Trim, Matthew Flinder's cat.

• A Cat Called Trim  by Corinne Fenton and Craig Smith

• The Mostly True Story of Matthew and Trim  by Cassandra Golds

• The Best Cat, the Est Cat  by Libby Hathorn

Sydney Harbour

• Fergus the Ferry by J.W.Noble There is a large number of books about Fergus and they have a loyal following in our school library (probably because of where the students live).

• Stanley the Manly Ferry  by James Whiley (3titles)

• The Sydney Harbour Fairy  by Deborah Frankel and Cate James

Nanna is taking Charlie for a Girls' Day Out. They'll have high tea, watch the ballet, smell flowers and visit the Sydney Harbour Fairy,
but the Harbour Fairy isn't what Charlie expected, and her Girls' Day Out with Nanna just got so much better.

• Fluke  by Lesley Gibbes and Michelle Dawson

In 2012 a Southern right whale gave birth to a calf in Sydney Harbour. It was only the third time in recorded history that a Southern right whale had been born in the harbour.

• Sidney of Sydney  by Sue Whiting and Liz Anelli

Sidney is a young penguin … and he’s trouble.
Sidney doesn’t mean to be trouble, he’s just curious. And one day that curiosity takes Sidney all over Sydney and on a grand adventure that lands Sidney in … TROUBLE! Based on a true story.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge

• The Day We Built the Bridge by Samantha Tidy and Fiona Burrows

Big dreams can take generations. It can also take six million hand-driven rivets and 53,000 tonnes of steel. The Day We Built the Bridge celebrates our connection with one another, and declares that despite the greatest of challenges, together we can make history.

• Building the Sydney Harbour Bridge  by John Nicholson

The inside story of a national icon 'The giant coat-hanger' took 1300 men eight years to build. They used six million rivets and 53 000 tonnes of steel. John Nicholson tells the story step by step, in fascinating detail: the vision, the problems, the solutions, the suspense (would the two halves actually meet?), the risks, the celebrations.

• To the Bridge  by Corinne Fenton and Andrew McLean

Nine-year-old Lennie Gwyther dreamed of seeing the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. With his father's blessing, he rode his pony Ginger Mick across Australia, inspiring crowds of supporters to greet him in cities along the way, as he made his way to Sydney.

(This would make a good companion text because it too, is about a journey, a Sydney icon and history).

I'm sure there are others that I have missed, but this is a good start! If you want to follow maps try:

• Sydney City Trails from Lonely Planet Kids.

PS: Other tangents

• sugar gliders...a zookeeper had one in his pocket in the story. Find out more about them

• Mr Miller and Jessie had a very special relationship. Is this the case for other zookeepers?

See:

The Sydney Harbour Bridge Turns 90!

Peter Alderson 

I have walked over the Harbour Bridge so many times, but each time it is awe inspiring and today I walked around the Birchgrove foreshore and spied it from many angles, sitting there majestically and thought too about how much it means to Sydney living. It has just turned 90 and it has been lit up differently for two nights as part of the celebration.

Here is a short video about the bridge where John Bradfield's grandson talks 

The SMH has some photos here that will enable some good class discussion.

There are several picture books which will also provide background information on the bridge for young students. It also features in many books about bridges and Sydney. Use the index to find out which ones do.

Building the Sydney Harbour Bridge by John Nicholson

'The giant coat-hanger' took 1300 men eight years to build. They used six million rivets and 53 000 tonnes of steel. John Nicholson tells the story step by step, in fascinating detail: the vision, the problems, the solutions, the suspense (would the two halves actually meet?), the risks, the celebrations.  

Once you've read this book, you'll never see that soaring arch, that vast maze of steel, the same way again. 

To the Bridge  by Corinne Fenton and Andrew McLean

The story of Lennie Gwyther and Ginger Mick, a boy and his pony who crossed Sydney's Harbour Bridge on 19th of March, 1932 and marched into history. 

 Lennie the Legend by Stephanie Owen Reeder

This is the inspiring true story of nine-year-old Lennie Gwyther who, at the height of the Great Depression in 1932, rode his pony from his home town of Leongatha in rural Victoria to Sydney to witness the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Lennie’s 1,000-kilometre solo journey captured the imagination of the nation, and his determination and courage provided hope to many at a difficult time in Australia’s history.

Lennie's Ride  by Mary Small and Marion Wilcocks

Lennie's Ride is the remarkable story of Lennie Gwyther, a nine-year-old farmer's son from Leongatha in Gippsland, Victoria, so excited about the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge he rode his pony, Ginger Mick, 600 miles to witness the event himself.

The Day We Built the Bridge by Samantha Tidy and Fiona Burrows

There are moments in history that connect us and define a country. In our hearts and minds, some moments rely on us to hold onto a dream, face tough challenges, and put in a great deal of effort. Big dreams can take generations. It can also take six million hand-driven rivets and 53,000 tonnes of steel. The Day We Built the Bridge celebrates our connection with one another, and declares that despite the greatest of challenges, together we can make history.

Hello, Sydney! by Megan McKean

Discover 15 of Sydney's most iconic locations, with the help of six cheeky seagulls, on this look-and-find adventure.

 13 Bridges Children Should Know  by Brad Finger

One of the 13 is the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Australia's Bridges  by Alison Hideki

Engineering Marvels of Australia contains the stories of the design and construction of some of Australia's major feats of engineering.

18th March Sydney Harbour Bridge turns 80

The Sydney Harbour Bridge turns 80. Living so close to this icon it is hard to ignore. It is both majestic and annoying at the same time. It gets so congested. It costs so much to cross it in a car. It is always being worked on, but nevertheless when you get to stand back from it and look at it in its entirety you cannot fail to be inspired by its engineering and you are awestruck, even when it isn't sunset or festooned with fireworks. Time to dig out John Nicholson's wonderful book Building the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It will add to that feeling of awe when you read about the workers, the materials and the stories surrounding its construction. Here's what the publisher says about the book:

The inside story of a national icon.
'The giant coat-hanger' took 1300 men eight years to build. They used six million rivets and 53 000 tonnes of steel. John Nicholson tells the story step by step, in fascinating detail: the vision, the problems, the solutions, the suspense (would the two halves actually meet?), the risks, the celebrations.
Once you've read this book, you'll never see that soaring arch, that vast maze of steel, the same way again.