1. Art motifs
2. Birds
3. Board books
4. Cockatoos
5. Emus
6. Galahs
7. Kingfishers
8. Kookaburras
9. Magpies
10. Parrots
11. Stories in rhyme
12. Visual literacy

In ‘Our Birds’ Bronwyn Bancroft introduces a variety of Australian unique birds. Of the more than 850 known species found here 45% are unique to Australia and deserve to be known about.

Each bird is depicted using Bronwyn Bancroft’s unique and colourful style. The reader meets birds of all types ranging from a selection of the fifty-seven known species of parrots and cockatoos native to Australia, the large fast-running emu, the big-billed pelican, the little or fairy penguin and the famously loud eastern states native, the kookaburra. Each illustration is accompanied by two short rhyming sentences that provides brief information about the particular bird.

The book’s subject matter and the quality of the artwork makes it ideal for sharing with young children who may recognise some of the more common species. It also provides an opportunity to examine the intricate and detailed forms and shapes Bronwyn Bancroft employs in her artwork and young people may like to replicate her style.

Award-winning creator Bronwyn Bancroft is a proud Bundjalung woman and artist. She has made a significant contribution to Australian First Nations children’s literature. She has been awarded the Dromkeen Medal for her contribution to Australian literature and has been nominated for prestigious international children’s literature awards including the Hans Christian Andersen and the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Awards.

Series title: Though not a named series ‘Our Birds’ has a companion title ‘Our Bugs’ which may also be of interest.

1. ABC Play School Art Time 27 July 2019. Bronwyn Bancroft talks about the inclusion of her painting “Violet’ in Play School Art Time and the importance of art in early childhood. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1828834647262124
2. Bronwyn Bancroft website https://www.bronwynbancroft.com/
3. ABC Kids The Wonder Gang ‘Fun Facts about Birds’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3m7jskdHxI
4. The Conservation 13 November 2023. Stephan Garnett writes ‘Australia has more bird species than almost anywhere else. What led to this explosion of diversity?’ https://theconversation.com/australia-has-more-native-bird-species-than-almost-anywhere-else-what-led-to-this-explosion-of-diversity-215809
5. The Guardian 1 December 2017. John Pickrell reports ‘Land of the birds: why Australia has the world’s greatest diversity of avian life.’ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/01/birds-australia-world-greatest-diversity