Or how a Hungarian mum (that’s me) and her tiny explorer started decoding the bush one bedtime story at a time.
When we first arrived in Sydney, the birds outside our window creaked and cackled like rusty hinges — and we found them hilarious. We wanted to know their names, and how many different varieties of kangaroos could possibly hop across one continent. I was also chasing answers to questions I hadn’t even dreamed up yet. (There were already plenty just navigating a new country and a jet‑lagged toddler.)
Still, two cornerstones of my parenting philosophy have never wobbled: nature and books. You can’t really overdose on either, so I try to weave them into every day we live. That didn’t change when we moved to Australia — I just had to find new trails, and the right stories to walk them with.
So we started learning the language of the Aussie bush together—through picture books. In this post, I’ve gathered the Australian nature and wildlife stories that slowly taught us who (and what) shares our new backyard.
These Australian nature and wildlife books are what we actually read and reread with our then-preschooler. They’re colourful, accurate, full of gentle stories, and perfect for curious little bushwalkers.
My 10 favorite Australian nature books for preschoolers
Where the Lyrebird Lives – Vikki Conley & Max Hamilton
This book whispers rather than explains, asking you to be still long enough that maybe—just maybe—you notice a unique performance. The story gently leads you through the beauties of the Australian rainforest, looking for the iconic bird that can mimic any sound.
I loved the beautiful illustrations and the way the book recreates the atmosphere of our local walks in the Sydney North Shore temperate rainforests. Get your copy here.
Bowerbird Blues – Aura Parker
A love letter to blue—soft blue, sizzling neon blue, heartbreak blue. The bowerbird in Parker’s story becomes both collector and philosopher, gathering shades like memories. It’s half poetry, half treasure map.
My son adores the rhythm; I adore that it made me notice all the hidden blues of suburban Sydney. Get your copy here.
Take it further: give your child a sketchbook and go on a “blue treasure” hunt in the backyard. Warning: peg baskets will never be safe again.
Wombat Poos Are Square – Sophie Gillies
Are you thinking about toilet training books? Forget the usual ones, and discover which animal has sparkly poo, who poops hundreds of times a day and, of course, whose poos are square. (yes, wombats). Only in Australia could a children’s book about digestive geometry become a bestseller, and rightly so.
The humour is unapologetic, and the science surprisingly solid. Plus, for a family still learning on wildlife vocabulary, this book added phrases like “cube‑shaped poo” to our bilingual lexicon. Get your copy here.
Possum Magic – Mem Fox & Julie Vivas
Apologies if you already knew this one. I know, every Aussie parent swore we had to own it. But they were right.
It’s timeless, carried by Vivas’s soft watercolours and Fox’s syllables that taste like lullabies. This story of Grandma Poss and Hush has plenty of magic! Get your copy here.
Australia: Country of Colour – Jess Racklyeft
Racklyeft paints Australia like a child seeing it for the first time — with unembarrassed joy and all the vibrant crayons. Ochre deserts next to turquoise reefs, storm‑grey cockatoos, and eucalyptus greens.
Each page hums with watery brushstrokes, showing that this land—and its weather—never quite pick one mood. I fell in love with the colors, just like the ones in real life Australia! Get your copy here.
Edward the Emu – Sheena Knowles & Rod Clement
Edward the Emu decides to spend his days pretending to be other animals — a seal, a snake, even a lion — only to realise that being an emu suits him best after all. This simple, heartwarming story can spark a great conversation about the importance of valuing ourselves as we are.
The illustrations capture that unmistakable Aussie absurdity — wide skies, goofy expressions, and dust that somehow looks golden instead of dirty. Get your copy here.
Magic Beach – Alison Lester
Ordinary things turn quietly extraordinary in this book — sandcastles become palaces, waves turn into dragons. It’s perfect for helping little ones process memories from the beach and for sending their imaginations off on new adventures next time.
I love how detailed and generous the illustrations are; they offer so much to talk about, even without reading a single line of text. Get your copy here.
Diary of a Wombat – Jackie French & Bruce Whatley
If Hungarian kids are raised on forest tales about hedgehogs and deers, Australian ones apparently learn from wombats who head‑butt doors until they’re fed carrots. But we all appreciate the dry humour, and laziness and stubbornness are definitely universal. Get your copy here.
Dry to Dry: The Seasons of Kakadu – Pamela Freeman & Liz Anelli
This is the sort of book I secretly bought for myself. It’s lyrical, dense with colour, and I long to visit Kakadu National Park once in my life!
This richly illustrated story captures how Kakadu’s landscapes and wildlife transform through the year’s great cycle — from Dry to Wet to Dry once more. It also sprinkles bits of Indigenous ecological wisdom without preaching. Get your copy here.
Wild Australian Life – Leonard Cronin & Chris Nixon
It’s a grand, illustrated field guide masquerading as a picture book: an explosion of colour and facts that swoops from coral reefs to deserts to alpine ridges, introducing the million or so creatures clever enough to call Australia home. And it doesn’t just show wildlife; it teaches how animals survive in climates that feel like different planets stitched together.
For a mum who still sometimes mistakes a noisy miner for a fancy pigeon, it’s equal parts enlightenment and humble pie. For a preschooler it’s maybe a bit too long, but it’s such a wonderful book, that I can’t help recommending it, anyway. Just let the little ones digest whatever they can. (And they’ll grow up to it.) Get your copy here.
If you’d like to walk these stories
In our first year in Sydney, I kept a handwritten list of every trail that looked manageable with a toddler — short bush tracks, harbour walks with playgrounds, hidden beaches. The notebook slowly turned into something bigger: my e‑book, Sydney’s Best Family Walks.
It’s the guide I wish I’d had at the beginning: real photos, honest notes about prams and parking, and 50 kid-tested Sydney walks. Plus, 130+ nature play ideas and printables as a bonus. Grab your copy here!
If these picture books spark a love for the bush in your home, this guide will help you find the places where those stories come alive.
From page to playground: how we read the bush
Storytime doesn’t need to stop at the bookshelf.
- After Bowerbird Blues, wander the yard collecting blues like tiny curators.
- After Wombat Poos Are Square, look for animal clues (nothing too graphic).
- After Where the Lyrebird Lives, practise silence on your next bushwalk — occasionally successful.
- After Australia: Country of Colour, paint sunsets messy enough to make the kookaburras laugh.
So: get inspired, and get out! Because in a country where parrots argue louder than traffic and trees shed bark instead of leaves, reading about nature is only the first translation step — the rest happens out there. In the bush. On the beach.
And if you’re looking for more places to turn stories into footprints, wander through my other posts — about Sydney’s best family‑friendly beaches and our favorite toddler‑friendly walks.
Sydney Family Walks Made Easy!
Get my guide to 50 kid-tested trails with maps, parking, pram info & fun “Play Factor” notes. PLUS: 130+ nature play ideas & printables!
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