English

Years 5-6

A Ghost in My Suitcase

Author:

Gabrielle Wang

Text type:

Novel

Setting:

Chinese-Australian context

Female protagonist travels from Australia to China to visit grandmother, and discovers a ghost-hunter gift. The author is a gold-rush descendant. Winner Aurealis Award Best Childrens' Book, 2009.

Australia Kaleidoscope

Authors:

Julie Hamston and Kath Murdoch

Text type:

Resource text, nonfiction

Setting:

Australia, Asia-related content

Discusses the influences of Asian traditions, beliefs, values and people on Australian culture. The book is accompanied by a teacher resource.

Chook Chook: Mei's Secret Pets

Author:

Wai Chim

Text type:

Novel

Setting:

China

A heartfelt tale of love, loss and the power of kindness set against the backdrop of rural China.

Danger Unlimited

Author:

Dafne Bidwell

Text type:

Novel

Setting:

Singapore

This story involves a Singaporean family and Australian children and an oil rig mystery.

Dragon Dawn

Author:

Carole Wilkinson

Text type:

Novel, historical fantasy series

Setting:

China

Set in China 282 BCE, this is the prequel to the trilogy: Dragonkeeper > Dragon Moon > Garden of the Purple Dragon by the same author. Excellent research by writer. Teacher notes are available online.

Dragon Moon

Author:

Carole Wilkinson

Text type:

Novel, historical, fantasy series

Setting:

China

Set during Ancient China's Han dynasty. This book belongs to the trilogy: Dragonkeeper > Dragon Moon > Garden of the Purple Dragon by the same author. Excellent research by writer. Teacher notes available from publisher's website.

Dragonkeeper

Author:

Carole Wilkinson

Text type:

Novel, historical, fantasy series

Setting:

China

Set in Ancient China, this book belongs to the trilogy: Dragonkeeper > Dragon Moon > Garden of the Purple Dragon by the same author. The excellent research methods by writer interesting for teachers and students. Teacher notes available from publisher's website.

Garden of the Purple Dragon

Author:

Carole Wilkinson

Text type:

Novel, historical, fantasy series

Setting:

China

Set in Ancient China, this book belongs to the trilogy: Dragonkeeper > Dragon Moon > Garden of the Purple Dragon by the same author. The excellent research by writer. Teacher notes available from publisher's website.

Hannah's Winter

Author:

Kieren Meehan

Text type:

Novel

Setting:

Japan

This novel was written after the author spent six months living on Hokkaido, Japan. It tells of an Australian girl's semester there. Short listed for the Patricia Wightson Prize in the 2002 NSW Premier's Award.

Homeless Bird

Author:

Gloria Whelan

Text type:

Novel

Setting:

India

This novel is written in the first person and tells the story of an Indian girl's early marriage and widowhood. Its settings include Varanasi on the River Ganges. A teacher guide is also available.

Hungry Ghosts

Author:

Sally Heinrich

Text type:

Novel

Setting:

China, Australia

Named after the Hungry Ghosts Festival, this is a Chinese-Singaporean family migration story told through the eyes of a teenage girl. The writer is also an award-winning illustrator.

Images of Asia

Author:

Stacey Hattensen

Text type:

Teacher guide + eight cards

Setting:

China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam

Explore aspects of the countries of Asia by drawing on visual understanding, supported by teacher-guided learning activities. The cards encourage small group, shared investigations, and contain stimulus for higher-order thinking and discussion.

India Kaleidoscope

Author:

Sally Heinrich

Text type:

Story, narrative

Setting:

India

Takes students on a journey across India with Jack, an Australian boy who describes life in India through his own experiences. Topics include influences on culture and identity, the social, economic and political experiences of his peers, and some of the rich mythology of India. Includes student activities.

Kalpana's Dream

Author:

Judith Clarke

Text type:

Novel

Setting:

India, Australia

This is the story of an Indian girl adjusting to life in Year 7 and 8 in an Australian secondary school.

Key into China

Author:

Sally Heinrich

Text type:

Reference

Setting:

China

Offers interesting and exciting ways for students to build higher-order thinking skills while developing a deeper understanding of the ideas and values of this country.

Key into Indonesia

Author:

Sally Heinrich

Text type:

Reference

Setting:

Indonesia

A collection of exciting activities that provide students and teachers with insight into this fascinating country. Students gain an understanding of Indonesia's diversity through investigations into its culture, environment, traditions and language.

Key into Japan

Author:

Sally Heinrich

Text type:

Reference

Setting:

Japan

Offers interesting and exciting ways for students to build higher-order thinking skills while developing a deeper understanding of the ideas and values of this country.

Krakatoa Lighthouse

Author:

Allan Baillie

Text type:

Novel

Setting:

Indonesia

Set in 1883 on the Javanese coast when the eruption of Krakatoa is imminent. The main character is the 12-year-old son of the lighthouse keeper. Allan Baillie travelled to Krakatoa to research this novel. Winner Patricia Wightson Prize in 2010 NSW Premier's Literary Awards.

My Hiroshima

Author:

Junko Morimoto, translated by Anne Bower Ingram and Isao Morimoto

Text type:

Picture book

Setting:

Japan

This book contains the drawings, photographs and text of a Hiroshima survivor and contains some violence.

New Gold Mountain

Author:

Christopher Cheng

Text type:

Novel, historical, diary format

Setting:

Chinese-Australian context

This book is written from the viewpoint of a Chinese boy living at Young (Lambing Flat) in NSW during the gold rush. It explores tensions and friendships on the goldfields.

Noodle Pie

Author:

Ruth Starke

Text type:

Novel

Setting:

Vietnam, Australia

Andy accompanies his father who is returning to Vietnam after leaving 20 years ago as a refugee.

Rebel Girl

Author:

Susan Geason

Text type:

Novel, historical

Setting:

China

This novel is set in 19th century China on the Yangtze River and tells the story of a girl servant.

Samurai Kids: Shaolin Tiger

Authors:

Sandy Fussell and Sally Rippin

Text type:

Picture book

Setting:

China

This text is multi-layered and explores ethical issues.

Stitching Stories: The art of embroidery in Gujerat

Author:

Nina Sabnani

Text type:

Non-fiction photo/art story

Setting:

India

This is a beautiful book giving us an insight into a traditional art and the way it has been become narrative art and a new creative way to tell stories.

Tales from Outer Suburbia

Author:

Shaun Tan

Text type:

Short stories, illustrated

Setting:

Australia, Asia-related content

The 15 short illustrated stories include one about a 'foreign exchange student', Eric. Shaun Tan is a multi-award winning illustrator and writer.

Tamburlaine's Elephants

Author:

Geraldine McCaughrean

Text type:

Novel

Setting:

India

This novel is set in 14th century India. Tamburlaine is a Mongol warrior with his sights set on Delhi. Kavi, the boy hero, is an elephant mahout.

Thai-riffic!

Author:

Oliver Phommavanh

Text type:

Novel

Setting:

Thai-Australian context

This is an entertaining novel about a contemporary Australian-Thai family who run a restaurant.

The Arrival

Author:

Shaun Tan

Text type:

Graphic novel

Setting:

Asia-related content

This book comprises sepia images that explore migration and refugee experiences. There is no text.

The Enchanted Saarang: Stories from Kashmir

Author:

Asha Hanley

Text type:

Fiction folklore/mythology

Setting:

India/Kashmir

This unique collection of stories about Kashmir invites readers into a world filled with spirits, magical bowls enchanted saarangs and more, drawn from mythology, folklore and lived experiences.

The Melting Pot

Author:

Christopher Cheng

Text type:

Novel, historical, diary format

Setting:

Chinese-Australian context

This novel is set in Sydney in the early 20th century. It is in diary format written by a boy, Edward Loh, son of a Chinese-Australian couple.

The Peasant Prince: The True Story of Mao’s Last Dancer

Author:

Li Cunxin, illustrated by Anne Spudvilas

Text type:

Picture book, autobiography

Setting:

China, USA, Australia

Inspiring story of Li Cunxin’s journey from rural China's cultural revolution to becoming a world acclaimed ballet dancer. This is an illustrated version of Li Cunxin's story and his eventual ballet career.

The Really Big Beliefs Project

Author:

Emma Barnard, Thomas Cho and Meredith Costain

Text type:

Range of text types including: interviews, research reports, pictorial stories

Setting:

China

Asia region, Intercultural understanding A personal approach that includes interviews, field trips and research by Year 6 students Tom and Emma that examines what people believe and how they express it. Looks at Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Judaic and secular, as well as Shinto and Taoist, beliefs.

The Really Big Food Project

Author:

Sally Rippin

Text type:

Range of text types including: interviews, research reports, pictorial stories

Setting:

Asia region

Year 6 students Emma and Tom discover that rice brings many surprising histories and connections to the countries of Asia. Includes their interviews, research from libraries and on the internet, fact bites, photos, maps, stories and drawings about rice and its history in our region, and a collection of traditional rice recipes from nine countries from Asia.

The Red Piano

Author:

Andre Leblanc

Text type:

Picture book

Setting:

China

This beautifully illustrated text tells the story of a child pianist during the cultural revolution in China. It is a sad but ultimately hopeful story as she endures to become a world famous classical pianist. Some illustrations derive from Mao era posters. Teacher notes are available at Wilkins Farago. Also a useful book for the study of Chinese Revolution history.

Tiger Stone

Author:

Deryn Mansell

Text type:

Novel

Setting:

Indonesia

Set in 14th century Java, this mystery adventure novel offers unique cultural and historical insights into Indonesia.

Treasure Hunters

Author:

Allan Baillie

Text type:

Novel

Setting:

Indonesia

This is a shipwreck treasure hunt set in a period of social and political change in Indonesia.

Village by the Sea

Author:

Anita Desai

Text type:

Story

Setting:

India

A moving story showing some of the problems facing families trying to escape from the poverty of village life in India.

Wabi Sabi

Authors:

Mark Reibstein and Ed Young

Text type:

Picture book

Setting:

Japan

This story, poetic and metaphorical, is presented in a stunning collage style. A cat is looking for her name. Listed in The New York Times 10 Best Illustrated Books 2008.