WTBA is a collection of and conversation about powerful books that strengthen, elevate, inspire and help to grow powerful, resilient kids. We're a book oriented guide for parents, grandparents, educators, aunts, uncles and anyone involved in nurturing children and caring for friends.
ages 8 years and up
This is a truly remarkable book – the sort that makes you gasp and know that it needs to be in your house, on your table and hopefully in the hearts of your family. It’s a refugee story and perhaps a Christmas fable - there’s a mother and a baby, a father and a donkey.
Here is a little fellow whose ‘head is filled with wonder.’ He’s great at noticing the wonders in his world, things like birds flying, clouds, and stars. He’s great at asking question too, like ‘what the best playground in the world might be like.’ He’s a boy who is not perishing for want of wonder. But he is constantly told to move on
ages 3 to 9 years
ages 4 to 12 years
I confess that I'm not a big fan of the whole hero culture that we seem to have going. Too often the ‘heroes’ aren’t heroic and are anything but role model material. But Peaceful Heroes is a collection of super-short biographies of people who have impacted the world positively and peacefully.
ages about 8 to grownup
The dreadful realities of history include events and times like the Cultural Revolution in China. Times that test the limits of our imaginations and our resolve. The Red Piano is a beautifully told story that takes us into the life of a young girl living through the Cultural Revolution.
ages newborn to 8 years, but adults and teens will get a kick out of it too
Theodore Roosevelt apparently said that 'comparison is the thief of joy' and that's almost always true. But in this great-fun story, comparison is the key to all sorts of funny and joyful moments. Great lessons wrapped up in a hilarious and fast moving story.
It’s entirely possible that somewhere a little one is reading their Grandparent’s childhood copy of Dogger. First published in 1977, the story is almost 40 years old – and it’s still fresh and lively and entirely relatable. The story is well known and well loved and so hardly needs recounting here. Just in case, though …
ages 2 to 8 years
Dogger is a soft toy dog who is very special to his owner Dave – he’s
Read MoreIt’s an Australian childhood ritual to pore over the latest Graeme Base book. This one could well be my favourite. There’s a really strong but attainable environment message running through it, with a boy seeing ‘eye to eye’ with a whole range of animals in an array of habitats and circumstances.
ages birth to 8 + grownup
A conversation about books + kids. A website resource and book reviews for educators, parents, grandparents. The main focus is emotional resilience.
