Blak ANZAC Day

You are correct. I did say the blog was having a break until after ANZAC Day but when Big Sky Publishing sent me these which arrived today (16th) how could I not read and review them to mark ANZAC 2025. You might already have them or not but be well advised to do so, if you haven’t for your collection and for future years because they are among the best I’ve seen.

Dreaming Soldiers – Catherine Bauer/Shane McGrath

Big Sky Publishing

Little Big Sky

March 2025

ISBN: 9781923300255
RRP: $24.99

For a lot of Australians (and arguably many of them older) this superb picture book reveals a history that was long-hidden. And, in some quarters, it is a history still ignored. But what a beautiful way to bring it to young readers, so we can raise a generation with more understanding, tolerance, empathy and respect, so that all Australians can walk together as equals.

It’s a story that would have been fact all over this country. Two boys grow up together in the outback. They play together, fish together, swim together, ride and muster together. They sit on a verandah and munch one mum’s biscuits, they sit around the campfire and listen to one uncle’s yarning and dreamtime stories. So it’s only natural really, that when push comes to shove, they both join up at the same time, and off they go on the ‘great adventure’ that so many fellas did – some for the thrill of overseas, some itching for the scrap, some for patriotic loyalty, some for regular pay, and for many First Nations enlistees, because they hoped that while they would be equals in conflict, they would also return home as equals.

The Australian concept of mateship is an iconic one, that has resonated throughout our history and there have been countless instances of First Nations and non-Indigenous mates (as well, of course, marriages and families). It’s always a point of amazement to me that so many of these mates, their close friendships and their absolute ‘colour blindness’ can be a point of anathema for others, even to this very day.

We certainly still have ‘notable’ people to be so, e.g. the buffoon touting himself as a potential leader, who has the lowest regard for our First Nations peoples (demonstrated repeatedly over his career) and would never consider being mates with anyone not of his colour and ‘social’ standing – just consider his hobnobbing with the super-rich klingons.

Many of us in education have seen for ourselves that children and young people are very much more oblivious to differences in colour/race/size/hair/whatever. I once had a small child refer to another as the boy who was his friend ‘that boy over there with the green jumper’. It was the green jumper that stood out for that little guy, not the fact that his friend was the only Aboriginal child in the class.

But somehow, so many people grow up bigoted and wanna-be-prime-ministers [ok, couldn’t resist that one, and I doubt that person ever had a shred of decency] are included. Catherine Bauer has encapsulated this whole dismal history, that was hidden for so long, but also brought to life the pure friendships that so many of the original diggers not only had in the battlefields but forever after as well. And, honestly, Shane McGrath’s illustrations – just wow! How wonderfully has he captured the essence of these two friends, while also providing young ones with a good insight into the privations and peril of the field of combat.

Now we can pass this knowledge on to our kiddos and have open and rich discussions with them about the inequity and gap that still remains, as well as demonstrating our respect for ALL those who went to war for our great nation.

It is without doubt, one of the best ‘war’ picture books I’ve seen and totally deserves the accolades it has received since its first publication. This updated edition has extra back matter, with discussion questions as well as a succinct summary of the Blak Diggers (and see teaching notes at the end of this post). Without hesitation it’s a 5 🤎 🤍🤎🤍🤎 rating from me.

Len Waters Boundless and Born to Fly: Australia Remember #3 – Catherine Bauer

September 2021

ISBN: 9781922488596

RRP: $24.99

Oh how I wish my Father Bear was still here so I could share this magnificent book with him!

This is not just a biography of Len Waters, our only First Nations fighter pilot of WWII, but a fulsome treasure trove of information about the war itself, how it changed the social landscape of Australia, the treatment of First Nations people and their culture, the RAAF, planes and pilots and more.

A quick look at the preview will more than convince anyone of this book’s value in any collection, or for any reader who is interested in these topics. It is, in addition, beautifully designed and produced – with call-outs, fast facts, side-bars, primary document images as well as illustrations, maps and engaging questions upon which to reflect or discuss.

The back matter includes some activities which will help bring this text, and Len’s story, alive for young readers. These include making a little model aeroplane, just like young Lenny did, which makes for a lovely real-life connection. Once again, there are teaching notes to accompany this title.

I was previously unaware of both this book and the series to which it belongs, but I hope to see more. Catherine Bauer clearly has real skill in weaving history, some of it confronting, into a narrative style that will fully engage and enthrall your readers from around Year 4 up into early secondary.

I spent my yesterday evening, quite engrossed in it, and I know my RAAF dad would have been equally chuffed with it. I salute you Len Waters, and thank you for your service. It is a real indictment that despite this man’s (and that of many others) highly skilled and important service to the country, after the war he said himself “having put off his uniform, he simply “returned to being a blackfellow” because once back in civvy street, you were just as marginalised as ever.

Almost 100 years later we can despair at the evidence of such attitudes still prevailing. Once again, I have no hesitation in giving this a soaring 5 ✈️✈️✈️✈️✈️ rating and consider it a must for any well-balanced collection. These are the books we need to put in front of our kiddos to make real changes in our nation’s fabric – for the better.