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.
Every so often in our family, someone claims it’s their half birthday and so they are in need of a cake! In the story, Oscar is six months old – and it’s the perfect day for a half birthday and a picnic with a cake!
ages baby to 7 years
Read MoreSet in Israel, there's an overwhelming sense of 'if only' when you reach the end of this beautiful book .... If only … children really could lead the world to peace. If only … all the walls, real and metaphorical,could come tumbling down. If only … we could heal the wounds of war.
ages 4 years to grownup
A parent's fondest wishes charmingly expressed with Alison Lester's classic illustrations - a perfect new born or baby gift (for the parents or the baby).
ages newborn to grown-up / Australia, heartwarmers
ages 5 years to grownup
Set in Australia. There’s something special about Anzac Day—the cool early morning spent standing with a crowd at the Dawn Service, family breakfasts, and of course Anzac Biscuits to nibble on all day.
And the sense of privilege and peace that comes with living in a free and protected country.
As is true of all war stories, Anzac Biscuits is pretty horrific, but a story that must be told: to remember history, to notice everyday blessings and to understand sacrifice. It does a particularly lovely job of the noticing everyday blessings and understanding sacrifice parts.
Read Moreages 8 years to teen
For non-Australian readers: Along the Road to Gundagai is much-loved folk song written in 1922 and Gundagai is a small town a couple of hours inland from Canberra (Australia’s capital city). It’s a lovely memorable tune and in this book it’s given a whole new (and solemn) slant.
Here, it’s a young soldier musing on the words to the song and the completely beautiful illustrations show scenes from home and scenes of war.
Read More‘Tight times’ is the reason the serious little fellow telling this story can’t get a dog. But in spite of the obvious troubles, this is an affirming, reassuring and peaceful book, with a dose of humour thrown in for good measure – as it always should be. (He does get a cat, who turns out to be a great 'dog'!)
ages about 4 to 12 years and grownups
ages 2 to 8 years
Alison Lester has a gift for writing words that bounce – there’s a rhythm to her words that's easy for the reader to catch and hold onto. The Journey Home isn't a rhyming book, but it does read in a lyrical sort of way. There’s a repeated refrain of ‘come inside and stay’ making this a good early reader.
A conversation about books + kids. A website resource and book reviews for educators, parents, grandparents. The main focus is emotional resilience.
