My Place
Winner CBCA Book of the Year Awards, Eve Pownall Award for Information Books and Winner Young Australians Best Book Awards - Picture Story Books
Everyone is part of History, and every place has a story as old as the earth.
My Place depicts the history of one particular piece of land in Sydney from 1788 to 1988 through the stories of the various children who have lived there. It aims to teach the reader about the history of Australia, about families, settlers, multiculturalism, and the traditional owners of the land. Each child's story covers a decade in time, showing their particular dress, customs and family life. The book also features maps that the successive generations of children have 'drawn' which demonstrate the things that have changed - as well as the things that have remained constant.
‘a masterpiece’- Sydney Morning Herald
‘an exciting venture in arousing children’s curiosity about…
their past, Australia’s past’ - The Age
‘inventive and absorbing’ - The Courier-Mail
‘historical fiction at its best’ - Scan
‘really outstanding’- The Canberra Times
Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year for Younger Readers, 1988
The Inaugural Eve Pownall Award for Children’s Non-Fiction, 1988
White Raven Award, 1988
KOALA Award, shortlisted 1989 & 1990
YABBA Award, 1988
IBBY Honour Book, 1990
Creators
Nadia Wheatley's published work includes fiction, history, biography and picture books. She writes for adults as well as for children and young adults. Seven of her books have been CBCA Honour books, and she has twice received the New South Wales Premier's Children's Book Prize. Her work includes Five Times Dizzy, Highway, The House that was Eureka, Lucy in the Light Year and Going Bush.
Donna Rawlins is an illustrator, book designer and teacher who has specialised in making books for children for most of her working life. She has won many awards for her work and in 2003 was the recipient of the prestigious Lady Cutler Award, presented by the Children’s Book Council of New South Wales, for her outstanding contribution to the children’s book industry. Donna lives on acreage in the Lower Blue Mountains outside Sydney, New South Wales.
Reviews
This fascinating book is like a time capsule of the first 200 years of white settlement in Australia, demonstrating that the Australian community has been influenced by cultures from all around the globe. I found myself just as involved in the story as my children were. If you are looking for a way to introduce your primary school-aged children to Australia’s modern history, this book is a wonderful way to begin.
Kids' Book Review
For anyone with young children, especially if you want them to learn a bit about Australia, this is a cracking read. It really brings Australian history to life.
goodreads
Brilliant children’s book showing the same suburb visited each ten years, beginning from the present day and travelling backwards until pre colonial days. This book could be read forwards or backwards. It is jammed with history but doesn’t feel like a history lesson. Each decade is accompanied by a detailed illustration showing the changes time has made. No wonder it won the Children’s Book of the Year.
goodreads
