An Aussie Year: Twelve Months in the Life of Australian Kids
Reviewed By Janet Mawdesley December 14, 2019
Author Tania McCartney and Tina Stirling
Distributor: EK Books
ISBN: 9781925820270
Publisher: EK/Exisle Publications
Release Date: 2019
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In a time of much cultural discussion, it is charming to find a series of books that deal with who and what make up the very interesting mix of cultures, now an integral component so many countries of the modern world.
An Aussie Year takes five children from five different cultures who live in Australia celebrating their cultures and differences, all the while looking at how these differences have now become an accepted component of life in Australia.
Ned’s family go back five generations to the early days of white settlement in Australia, Zoe’s family originally came from Greece, Lily’s parents are from China and Vietnam, Kirra’s family are first people, having family roots back thousands of years and Matilda was born in Ireland, arriving in Australia with her parents when she was still a baby: they all call themselves Australian.
Broken up into months of the year, each month is filled with the many celebrations and traditions of the different cultural backgrounds that are now absolutely a part of modern Australia.
Cartoon style illustration and cleverly constructed sentences from Tania McCartney and Tina Stirling weave across the seasons and the months of celebration, with a lovely understory saying no mater what your cultural background, somehow everyone really is the same: Australian.
Hours of fun discovering much about other aspects of life and people in Australia can be discovered within the pages, as the five children take readers on a fantastic adventure into their cultures and how they, as a family, celebrate seasonal events.
There is also the very real opportunity to go on an adventure of your own, as you discover much more about Ned, Zoe, Lily, Kira and Matilda’s cultures and how all they fit so well into everyday life here in Australia.