My Place
Age 8+
History & The Past: General Interest Picture Books
Everyone is part of History, and every place has a story as old as the earth.
My Place, the classic Australian picture book, is a 'time machine' which takes the reader back into the past. It 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.
Resources
Creators
Nadia Wheatley began writing full-time in 1976, after completing postgraduate work in Australian history. Her published work includes fiction, history, biography and picture books. She writes for adults as well as for children and young adults. Seven of Nadia's books have been CBCA Honour books, and she has twice received the New South Wales Premier's Children's Book Prize. Her biography of Charmian Clift won the New South Wales Premier's Award for Australian History (2002). Since the beginning of her career, Nadia Wheatley's books have reflected her commitment to multiculturalism, social justice and the preservation of the natural environment. Over the period 1998-2001 Nadia Wheatley and artist Ken Searle were consultants at the school at Papunya, an Aboriginal community in the Western Desert. As part of their work, they helped Elders and students produce the multi-award-winning Papunya School Book of Country and History. In 2005 Nadia and Ken developed an innovative Harmony project with students from Muslim, Catholic and state schools in Sydney's south-west, culminating in the picture book Going Bush. This has received an Australian Award for Excellence in Educational Publishing (2007) and was shortlisted for the 2007 Human Rights Medal.
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
