Australian War Chapter Booklist
When attempting to explain War with children, the why’s and how’s are often more easily understood through books, they create a space to discuss and ponder, to begin to grapple with the enormity of the sacrifices made and the complexity of issues.
The topic of War is complex and the majority of these books are suitable for older children.
The following books are currently in print and your library will likely have many of them, we are not expecting you to read all of these books. Work within your local library and inter-library loans.
You may choose to focus on one war at a time and devote a term to each area, or you may just choose to ‘dip your toes in’ and select a few books.
Be guided by how much of this complex topic your child can handle.
We have displayed the books suggestions in a visual grid below.
Below the visual grid the books are organised under sub-subject headings.
We have further suggestions at our Australian War Chapter page.
Create your own personalised list by opening your book choice and simply clicking the wishlist button to add to your list.
Wattle Gum Education Booklist – Australian War Picture Booklist pdf
| Image | Name | Writers | Illustrators | Tags | Series | Target Age | Print Status | Curriculums |
|---|
| A Fortunate Life | Facey, A B | | Bush Life, Gallipoli, World War One | | Young Adult | In Print | AO Aust JD, AO7 Aust JD |
| A Rose for the Anzac Boys | French, Jackie | | War France, Western Front, World War One | | 13-18 Years | In Print | |
| An Anzac Tale | Starke, Ruth | | Gallipoli, World War One | | 8-12 Years | In Print | |
| Anzac Boys | Bradman, Tony | | Gallipoli, World War One | | 9-13 Years | In Print | |
| Anzac Girl: The War Diaries of Alice Ross-King | Simpson, Kate | | 1910-1920, Major Alice Ross-King, War Nursing, War Women, World War One | | 6-14 Years | In Print | |
| Australia's Great War 1917 | Gardiner, Kelly | | War France, Western Front, World War One | | 13-18 Years | In Print | |
| Australia's Great War: 1918 | Gleeson, Libby | | War France, Western Front, World War One | Australia's Great War | 13-18 Years | In Print | |
| Battle Boy: White War | Carter, Charlie | | War France, Western Front, World War One | Battle Boy | 7-10 Years | In Print | |
| Caesar the War Dog | Dando-Collins, Stephen | | Afghanistan War | The War Dog | 10-14 Years | In Print | |
| Dreaming the Enemy | Metzenthen, David | | Vietnam War, War Returned Soldiers | | Young Adult | In Print | |
| Evan’s Gallipoli | Greenwood, Kerry | | Gallipoli, World War One | | 12-17 Years | In Print | |
| Flora’s War | Rushby, Pamela | | War Middle East, War Nursing, World War One | | 11-15 Years | In Print | |
| Frieda | Musgrove, Marianne | | 1910-1920, Adelaide, War Homefront, World War One | A New Australian | 8-12 Years | In Print | |
| History Mysteries: Diamond Jack | Greenwood, Mark | | Kimberley, War Homefront, World War Two | History Mysteries | 8-12 Years | In Print | |
| In The Lamplight | Wolfer, Dianne | | Australian Light Horse Brigade, War Middle East, War Nursing, War Returned Soldiers, World War One | | 10-14 Years | In Print | |
| Light Horse Boy | Wolfer, Dianne | | Albany, Australian Light Horse Brigade, War Middle East, World War One | | 10-14 Years | In Print | |
| Lighthouse Girl | Wolfer, Dianne | | Albany, War Homefront, World War One | | 10-14 Years | In Print | |
| Little Brother | Baillie, Allan | | Cambodian Civil War, Khmer Rouge | | 12-17 Years | In Print | |
| Loyal Creatures | Gleitzman, Morris | | Australian Light Horse Brigade, War Animals, War Middle East, World War One | | 12-17 Years | In Print | |
| My Australian Story : Vietnam | Challinor, Deborah | | Newcastle, Vietnam War | My Australian Story | 10-14 Years | In Print | |
| My Australian Story: Gallipoli | Tucker, Alan | | Gallipoli, World War One | My Australian Story | 10-14 Years | In Print | |
| My Australian Story: Heroes of Tobruk | Mulligan, David | | Siege of Tobruk, War Middle East, World War Two | My Australian Story | 10-14 Years | In Print | |
| My Australian Story: Kokoda | Tucker, Alan | | Kokoda Trail, Townsville, War Papua New Guinea, World War Two | My Australian Story | 10-14 Years | In Print | |
| My Australian Story: The Bombing of Darwin | Tucker, Alan | | War Darwin, War Homefront, World War Two | My Australian Story | 10-14 Years | In Print | |
| Operation Black Shark: Caesar the War Dog 5 | Dando-Collins, Stephen | | Afghanistan War | The War Dog | 10-14 Years | eBook, In Print | |
| Operation Blue Dragon: Caesar the War Dog 2 | Dando-Collins, Stephen | | Afghanistan War | The War Dog | 10-14 Years | In Print | |
| Operation Green Parrot: Caesar the War Dog 4 | Dando-Collins, Stephen | | Afghanistan War | The War Dog | 10-14 Years | In Print | |
| Operation Pink Elephant: Caesar the War Dog 3 | Dando-Collins, Stephen | | Afghanistan War | The War Dog | 10-14 Years | In Print | |
| Our Australian Girl: Alice and the Apple Blossom Fair | Bell, Davina | | Perth, War Homefront, World War One | Our Australian Girl | 8-12 Years | In Print | |
| Our Australian Girl: Alice of Peppermint Grove | Bell, Davina | | Perth, War Homefront, World War One | Our Australian Girl | 8-12 Years | In Print | |
| Our Australian Girl: Meet Alice | Bell, Davina | | Perth, War Homefront, World War One | Our Australian Girl | 8-12 Years | In Print | |
| Our Australian Girl: Meet Pearlie | Wang, Gabrielle | | Darwin, War Darwin, War Homefront, World War Two | Our Australian Girl | 8-12 Years | In Print | |
| Our Australian Girl: Peacetime for Alice | Bell, Davina | | 1910-1920, Perth, War Homefront, World War One | Our Australian Girl | 8-12 Years | In Print | |
| Our Australian Girl: Pearlie the Spy | Wang, Gabrielle | | Darwin, War Darwin, War Homefront, World War Two | Our Australian Girl | 8-12 Years | In Print | |
| Our Australian Girl: Pearlie’s Ghost | Wang, Gabrielle | | Darwin, War Darwin, War Homefront, World War Two | Our Australian Girl | 8-12 Years | In Print | |
| Our Australian Girl: Pearlie’s Pet Rescue | Wang, Gabrielle | | Darwin, War Darwin, War Homefront, World War Two | Our Australian Girl | 8-12 Years | In Print | |
| Prince of Afghanistan | Nowra, Louis | | Afghanistan War, War Animals | | 13-18 Years | In Print | |
| Red Day | Fussell, Sandy | | Cowra, Cowra Breakout, Prisoner War Camp, Synesthesia, Time Slip, War Homefront, World War Two | | 10-18 Years | In Print | |
| Reg Saunders: An Indigenous War Hero | Dolan, Hugh, Threlfall, Adrian | | Gunditjmara People, Korean War, Purnim, Reg Saunders, War Indigenous, World War Two | | 12-17 Years | In Print | |
| Simpson’s Donkey | Stanley, Peter | | Gallipoli, War Animals, World War One | | 10-14 Years | In Print | |
| Socks, Sandbags & Leeches: Letters to my Anzac Dad | Deeves, Pauline | | War Homefront, World War One | | 10-14 Years | Out Of Print | |
| Soldier Boy | Hill, Anthony | | Gallipoli, Jim Martin, World War One | | 10-14 Years | In Print | |
| Tank Boys | Dando-Collins, Stephen | | War France, Western Front, World War One | | 12-17 Years | In Print | |
| The Aussie Crusaders | Bowes, Joseph | | War Middle East, World War One | | 12-17 Years | In Print | AO Aust PD, AO5 Aust PD |
| The Blue Cat | Dubosarsky, Ursula | | Jewish, Sydney, War Homefront, World War Two | | 10-14 Years | In Print | |
| The Divine Wind | Disher, Garry | | Broome, Pearling, War Homefront | | Young Adult | In Print | |
| The Dog with Seven Names | Wolfer, Dianne | | Pilbara, War Animals, War Homefront, World War Two | | 10-14 Years | In Print | |
| The Donkey Who Carried the Wounded | French, Jackie | | Gallipoli, John Simpson Kirkpatrick, War Animals, World War One | Animal Stars | 9-13 Years | In Print | |
| The Fighting Stingrays | Mitchell, Simon | | Friendship, Thursday Island, War Homefront, World War Two | | 9-13 Years | In Print | |
| The Forgotten Pearl | Murrell, Belinda | | Darwin, Sydney, War Darwin, World War Two | Timeslip | 10-14 Years | In Print | |
| The Horses Didn’t Come Home | Rushby, Pamela | | Australian Light Horse Brigade, War Animals, War Middle East, World War One | | 11-15 Years | In Print | |
| The Year it All Ended | Murray, Kirsty | | Adelaide, War Homefront, War Returned Soldiers, World War One | | Young Adult | In Print | |
| To Love a Sunburnt Country | French, Jackie | | Gibber's Creek, Malaya, War Pacific, World War Two | Matilda Saga | Young Adult | In Print | |
| War's End | Bowen, Victoria | | Perth, Spanish Flu, War Homefront, World War One | | 9-13 Years | In Print | |
World War One
A Fortunate Life – AB Facey
A Rose for the Anzac Boys – Jackie French
An Anzac Tale – Ruth Starke
Anzac Boys – Tony Bradman
Anzac Girl: The War Diaries of Alice Ross-King – Kate Simpson
Australia’s Great War 1917 – Kelly Gardiner
Australia’s Great War: 1918 – Libby Gleeson
Battle Boy: White War – Charlie Carter
Evan’s Gallipoli – Kerry Greenwood
Flora’s War – Pamela Rushby
Frieda – Marianne Musgrove
In The Lamplight – Dianne Wolfer
Light Horse Boy – Dianne Wolfer
Lighthouse Girl – Dianne Wolfer
Loyal Creatures – Morris Gleitzman
My Australian Story: Gallipoli – Alan Tucker
Our Australian Girl: Meet Alice- Davina Bell
Our Australian Girl: Alice of Peppermint Grove – Davina Bell
Our Australian Girl: Alice and the Apple Blossom Fair – Davina Bell
Our Australian Girl: Peacetime for Alice – Davina Bell
Simpson’s Donkey – Peter Stanley
Soldier Boy- Anthony Hill
Tank Boys – Stephen Dando-Collins
The Aussie Crusaders – Joseph Bowes
The Donkey Who Carried the Wounded – Jackie French
The Horses Didn’t Come Home – Pamela Rushby
The Year it All Ended – Kirsty Murray
To Love a Sunburnt Country – Jackie French
War’s End – Victoria Bowen
World War Two
History Mysteries: Diamond Jack – Mark Greenwood
My Australian Story: Heroes of Tobruk – David Mulligan
My Australian Story: Kokoda – Alan Tucker
My Australian Story: The Bombing of Darwin – Alan Tucker
Our Australian Girl: Meet Pearlie – Gabrielle Wang
Our Australian Girl: Pearlie the Spy – Gabrielle Wang
Our Australian Girl: Pearlie’s Ghost – Gabrielle Wang
Our Australian Girl: Pearlie’s Pet Rescue – Gabrielle Wang
Red Day – Sandy Fussell
Reg Saunders: An Indigenous War Hero – Hugh Dolan
The Blue Cat – Ursula Dubosarsky
The Divine Wind – Garry Disher
The Dog with Seven Names – Dianne Wolfer
The Fighting Stingrays – Simon Mitchell
The Forgotten Pearl – Belinda Murrell
Vietnam War
Dreaming the Enemy – David Metzenthen
My Australian Story : Vietnam – Deborah Challinor
Cambodian Civil War
Little Brother – Alan Baillie
Afghanistan War
Caesar the War Dog – Stephen Dando-Collins
Operation Blue Dragon: Caesar the War Dog 2 – Stephen Dando-Collins
Operation Pink Elephant: Caesar the War Dog 3 – Stephen Dando-Collins
Operation Green Parrot: Caesar the War Dog 4 – Stephen Dando-Collins
Operation Black Shark: Caesar the War Dog 5 – Stephen Dando-Collins
Prince of Afghanistan – Louis Nowra
