1. Animals
2. Art motifs
3. Art, Aboriginal Australian
4. Boomerangs
5. Celebrations
6. Ceremonies
7. Counting
8. Country
9. Daily life
10. Dance
11. Didgeridoos
12. Echidnas
13. Environmental education
14. Glossaries and vocabularies
15. Hand weaving
16. Indigenous knowledge
17. Landscapes
18. Music
19. Stories and motifs
20. Stories in rhyme

This clever picture book adapts the lyrics of the much-loved yuletide classic ,'The Twelve Days of Christmas' giving it a festive Koorie spin.

Each double page spread features designs, motifs and activities widely familiar and enjoyed by Aboriginal People. For example, on the first day of Christmas, the ‘bush gave to me … a kookaburra in a gum tree.’ On the fifth day of Christmas the bush gave to me … five didgeridoos. Aboriginal art motifs feature throughout in the backgrounds. A double page at the back further explores these celebrations with additional information to consider. For example, defining elders yarning, weaving, flying boomerangs and finger limes.

A QR code is included to encourage singing along with the words in the book. The illustrations feature Aboriginal designs and motifs to highlight familiar landscapes, plants, animals, birds, and food. Altogether, the book encourages lively interaction.

Megan Van Den Berg is a Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung, Yorta Yorta, Wiradjuri, and Boon Wurrung woman. Emma Bamblett is an Aboriginal woman with Wemba Wemba, Gunditjmara, Ndgajo-ji, and Taungurung connections. They reveal Christmas has special memories for both creators as a time to celebrate this special time with their children and future generations.

1. Just So Stories 3 Dec 2024 review by Sue Warren of ’12 Days of Bush Christmas’. Additional resources are available at this website https://losangzopa.blog/2024/12/03/12-days-of-bush-christmas-megan-van-den-berg-emma-bamblett/
2. Facebook song and music ’12 Days of Bush Christmas’ performed by Uncle Kutcha Edwards, arrangement by Bruce Haymes. Includes a transcript of the story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfY1rmN9hco&t=2s
3. Australian Physiotherapy Association 9 Mar 2022 ‘Emma Bamblett connecting through storytelling, culture and country https://australian.physio/home/podcast/emma-bamblett-connecting-through-storytelling-culture-and-country
4. Child: The Real Guide for Parents features 31 well known English language Christmas books with short quotes about the appeal of each book https://childmags.com.au/31-christmas-books-kids-love-to-read/