Our Island

Much-loved children's picture-book creators authors Alison Lester and Elizabeth Honey collaborate on this lyrical celebration of place, where the children of Mornington Island explore their home in words and pictures."Our Island is a true celebration of native Australian life, trembling with power and subtly." CBCA Reading TimeOur island lies beneath a big blue sky,surrounded by the turquoise sea.Turtles glide through the clear salt water,and dugongs graze on banks of seagrass.Join a group of children on an unforgettable adventure as they explore the wonders of their island home, fostering curiosity, connection, and a deep appreciation for nature.Young readers will discover-Hidden treasures through captivating island explorationVibrant characters who inspire and ignite imaginationStunning illustrations that breathe life into the island's enchanting landscapesThe sheer beauty of nature, celebrated in all its splendourThe joy of active discovery, as curiosity fuels unforgettable adventuresThe meaning of words in the Lardil language to deepen cultural understandingA wonderful collaboration with much-loved children's picture-book creators authors Alison Lester and Elizabeth Honey, Our Island is a great educational resource that aligns with the Indigenous component of the national curriculum, offering rich material for home or classroom discussions and engaging art projects.All royalties from Our Island and one dollar from the sale of each copy are donated to Mornington Island State School to fund art projects in the community.*WINNER Melbourne Prize for Literature 2018SHORTLISTED WA Premier's Book Awards, Children's Books 2018SHORTLISTED Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards, Indigenous Children 2015*NOTABLE BOOK CBCA Book of the Year Awards, Early Childhood 2015___Another classic from Alison Lester, the creator of many much-loved and award-winning picture books, including-Are We There Yet?I'm Green and I'm Grumpy!Who's that Knocking?Running with the HorsesOne Small IslandKissed by the MoonOur IslandMy Dog BigsySophie Scott Goes South

Children of Gununa (Author)Our Island was created by the children of Gununa (Mornington Island) with Alison Lester and Elizabeth Honey. The children who contributed to the book include- Roy Amini, Lydia Claxton-Amini, Carmelita Binjari, Brett Evans, Lenford Gabori, Letisha Gabori, Luckeisha Gabori, Saiyuri Govender, Serena Govender, Kenneth Jacob, Jasmine Jingles, Elijah Joe, Kathleen Juhel, Daniel Kohler, Jaylo Linden, Reed Linden, Saige Reid, Graham Roughsey, Cheraine Sewter, Miranda Thomas, Miguel Thompson, Sheyenne Thompson, Tianna Thompson, Landon Wall and Amber Wilson.Elizabeth Honey and Alison Lester on the making of Our Island-In 2006 we were invited to Mornington Island State School to make a picture book with the kids. We worked in the library with a group of twenty students. A short poetic text by Jasmine Jingles provided the inspiration, then we all searched for exactly the right words to describe the island. An ever-changing cast of illustrators drew with crayons, and washed over their drawings with food dyes. This wax-resist process made the drawings rich, the colours of the lines contrasting with the colours of the background. Some kids completed their own illustration; sometimes several children worked on the same picture. We hopped around art directing, whipping away pictures before they were overdone, and our young artists came and went as they were called out for tutoring, sport or other things. One copy of the book was printed out and we read it at assembly, minutes before catching the plane home.In 2013 we returned to the school and there were the original illustrations beautifully framed, hanging in the office corridors out of the tropical sun. We met the new staff and kids, and worked with them on the words and the pictures - some old, some new - that became this version of the book.Alison Lester (Author)Alison Lester is one of Australia's most popular and bestselling creators of children's books. Her picture books mix imaginary worlds with everyday life, encouraging children to believe in themselves and celebrate the differences that make them special.In a career spanning decades, Alison Lester has written many books, and won numerous prestigious awards, including the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year Award for her much-loved classic Are We There Yet? and the CBCA Eve Pownall Book of the Year Award for One Small Island. Her much-loved picture books include Kissed by the Moon, Running with the Horses, Sophie Scott Goes South and My Dog Bigsy - to name just a few. Alison Lester became Australia's first Children's Book Laureate in 2012, a position shared with Boori Monty Pryor. In 2016, Alison was awarded the Dromkeen Medal for her outstanding achievement in the creation of Australian children's and young adult literature.Alison lives on a farm in the Victorian countryside. She spends part of each year travelling to schools around Australia, helping students and teachers develop their own stories.Elizabeth Honey (Author)Elizabeth Honey is an award-winning author of poetry, picture books and novels. Her playful humour, originality and energy strike a chord with children everywhere. Elizabeth is also an artist and she illustrates her own books. Her picture books include Ten Blue Wrens, Not a Nibble!, I'm Still Awake, Still! and That's not a Daffodil! Elizabeth's books are published in many countries around the world.

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