Books & Learning Packs

An A to Z of Australia and the Second World War

By Matt Anderson

Nothing before or since has rivaled Australia's participation in the Second World War, both in its extent and its intensity. The war changed how we saw ourselves as a nation and to whom we would look in the future to underwrite our security. It modernised our industry, swept away the unemployment of the Great Depression, and redefined the role of women at home, in the work force and in the armed services. Through a collection of short overviews and sketches, K is for Kokoda explores these and other aspects of Australians at war in 1939-1945.

Published by the ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee (Queensland), 2010. Soft cover, photographs, 104 pages. ISBN 978-0-9804480-3-0

This resource aligns with the Australian Curriculum : History for Year 9 and the study of contextual text  within the Australian Curriculum : English [Literature Strand] for Years 5-9.

Two children who have attended the interment ceremony for the Unknown Australian Soldier at the Australian War Memorial are somewhat bewildered as to why this event took place. In a "dream sequence" the ghost of the Unknown Australian Soldier takes the children on a journey back in time to Gallipoli, the Middle East, the Western Front, etc. Suit middle primary to lower secondary.

ISBN 0-9577957-3-4

Published 2001
Author - Mary Small
Illustrator - Anne Langridge
Paperback with celloglaze cover; 32 pp excluding cover; B5 Landscape; Colour illustrations superimposed on photos

A Teaching and Learning Package for Primary Schools.

This resource aligns with the Australian Curriculum: History for Years 6 and 9 but is also a suitable  text for middle primary years in the Big Book format within the historical context of the Australian Curriculum : English [Literature Strand]
ISBN 978-0-9804480-0-9

Published 2007

A revised edition of the book written by Ian Jones in 1987; Illustrated by Basil and Wendy Gay

Paperback with celloglaze cover and pages

40 pp excluding cover; includes comprehensive glossary

Big Book/Portrait 485mmx340mm; colour

Package includes: 1 x Big Book 

Classroom activities on CD-ROM

A comprehensive account of the Australian Light Horse in WW1 – at Gallipoli, on the Western Front and across the vast deserts of the Middle East.

This resource aligns with the Australian Curriculum : History  for Year 3 and the historical text component of the Australian Curriculum : English [Literature Strand] for Years  5-7.

A story about the Australian war horses, the Walers, who went with the Australian troopers to the Boer War in South Africa and with the Light Horsemen to World War 1. Delightful illustrations, many humorous, to help younger readers understand the role of these Australian horses in wartime, the hardships suffered by the men and their horses and the special bond they shared. Suit lower – middle primary.

ISBN 0-9577957-6-9

Published December 2001
Author – Vashti Farrer
Illustrator – Sue O’Loughlin
Paperback with celloglaze cover; 32 pp excluding cover; B5 Portrait; Colour illustrations every page;

An illustrated and pictorial tribute to Australia's tracker dogs in the Vietnam War. (Read more.)

This resource aligns with Australian Curriculum : History for Years 6 and 10 as well as the historical context required in the literature strand of the Australian Curriculum : English Years 5-10.

seek! is a 48-page tribute to the Australian tracker dogs that served in the Vietnam War.
In full colour with more than 110 photos (black & white as well as colour)—plus maps and illustrations—this book gives an overview of the Vietnam War and the service of the Australians who were deployed there; and the role of the eleven dogs that were part of the combat tracker teams that operated during Australia’s commitment from 1966 to 1972.

Authors: Di Burke and Mary Small

Suitable 10 yo to adult. -- ISBN 978-0-9804480-6-1

Shortlisted for The Australian Awards for Excellence in Educational Publishing for 2003.

This resource aligns with the Australian Curriculum : History for Year 9.

It is also a useful tool when teaching  research skills at any upper school level.

This book is the definitive guide to researching the military history of a WW1 Digger. In a step by step approach, author Graeme Hosken provides the researcher with all of the information and tools necessary to complete the task.

80 pages plus cover

ISBN 0-9580273-2-3 

Published October 2002

Author Graeme Hosken

Published by ADCC Publications

The individual book from the In Search of … series.

ISBN 0 9581625 7 3

An adventure novel set during the First World War in France.

This resource aligns with the historical , cultural and differing viewpoints in a text listed in the Australian Curriculum : English [Literature Strand] for Years 6-9.

Written by Ian Jones. 56 pages text only. Retail price $8.80 Size A5 Lucien is 16 and in love. To impress his beloved Marie-Claude he sets out with a horse and cart to rescue an abandoned crop from a First World War battlefield in France. A young Australian soldier, Percy, becomes his ally in this mad quest and they share an encounter with the legendary German fighter ace, The Red Baron. For all of them – Lucien, Marie-Claude, Percy, even for The Red Baron – no other day will ever change their lives as much.

Suitable for upper primary to lower secondary. New release November 2009. ISBN 9780980448016

This resource aligns with the  Development of Historical Text within the Australian Curriculum: History for Year 6 .It is also a suitable text for middle primary years in the Big Book format within the historical context of the Australian Curriculum: English [Literature Strand].

A Teaching and Learning Package for Primary Schools.

ISBN 0-9757123-1-4

Published 2005

Written by Vashti Farrer & Mary Small; Illustrator -- Elizabeth Alger

Paperback with celloglaze cover and pages; 32pp excluding cover 
Big Book/Portrait 490mmx360mm; colour Illustrations every page

Package includes: 1 x Big Book 6 x Shelf Books (B5 size)
Classroom activities on CD-ROM

This resource may be aligned to the Australian Curriculum: English [Literature Strand] to create a variety of literacy text across all year levels.

These posters are also valuable within a Civics and Citizenship  or Communications unit of work at any year level.

Written by Tracey Linnane; ISBN 0 9581625 2 2 

Includes: A collection of 18 quality, full colour A3 posters (6 each for years P-2, 3-5 and 6-7); a teaching plan and student worksheets on CD-ROM and an A3 Display Folder.

A list of strategic questions, developed for use with each peace poster, has been printed on the back of each poster to aid use by teachers during discussions with students. The peace posters and accompanying questions may be used with individual students, in small groups or with the whole class when conducting substantive conversations as part of discussions.

Long-term educational aim is to foster in children: increased awareness of the concept of ‘peace’ in their communities; how it contributes to their lives; and ways in which we think, feel and act peaceably in order to live a healthy, happy and fulfilled life. An important aspect is to assist children to link their understandings, capabilities and attitudes of ‘peace’ with the sacrifices made by our Australian service men and women from the past and present, as we advocate and strive for peace in our lives today.