1. Cruelty
2. Death
3. Discrimination
4. First Nations people
5. Grief
6. History
7. Human rights
8. Imagery
9. Prejudice
10. Symbolism

In 1980, after a day enjoying the wonders of Uluru, the Chamberlain family, mum Lindy, dad Michael, brothers Aidan and Reagan with their baby sister Azaria settled down for the night in their tents. This is the outback and animals roamed around the campsite including dingoes. While the baby slept the family enjoyed time under the high night sky which was filled with stars. Late that night Lindy heard her baby cry but when she looked inside the tent the baby was gone.

Even though there were dingoes around the camp and the baby’s clothes were found some people in authority accused Lindy Chamberlain of murder. Years of legal and media debate ensued and Lindy was sent to jail. In 1986 the police found Azaria’s missing jacket and it was clear that a dingo did indeed take this tiny baby.

This book was published to mark the 20th anniversary of the disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain. It successfully conveys the frenzy of media attention and community debate. The writing uses a direct style similar to a news report. The story is a tragic modern-day Grimm's fairy tale with powerful messages about truth and justice, media opinion and public hysteria. The bold graphic, digital illustrations are filled with intense shades of orange. The illustrations shimmer with the beauty of the desert in the day and night. This contrasts with the darkness of society, the media circus and polarized international debate. The endpapers contain muted flowers at the front and bursts of colour at the back.

This book contains extensive back notes, and it is dedicated to Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton and Baby Azaria. Older readers could use this book to examine society's treatment of women and of Indigenous people who knew the truth but were not heard.

Short listed 2021 CBCA Eve Pownall Award

1. Walker Books Teachers’ Notes https://classroom.walkerbooks.com.au/home/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/TEACHERS-NOTES-AZARIA_A_TRUE_HISTORY_COOTE.pdf
2. Video of the author and illustrator, Maree Coote, talking about and reading ‘Azaria: a True History’, 23 Jul 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-N5zVK4EaI
3. National Centre for Australian Children’s Literature Resource, overview of ‘Azaria: A True History’ https://www.ncacl.org.au/atsi_resource/azaria-a-true-history/
4. Reading Time review by Maureen Mann of ‘Azaria: A True History’, 24 April 2021 https://readingtime.com.au/azaria-a-true-history/
5. The Bottom Shelf, review by Barbara Braxton of ‘Azaria: A True History’, 12 Mar 2021 https://thebottomshelf.edublogs.org/2020/03/12/azaria-a-true-history/
6. CBCA Interview with Maree Coote about ‘Azaria: A True History’ https://cbca.org.au/book/azaria-a-true-history
7. Momo celebrating time to read, Blog review of ‘Azaria: A True History’, 23 Sept 2021, includes links to additional material http://momotimetoread.blogspot.com/2021/09/azaria-true-history-by-maree-coote.html
8. OZ Lit Teacher Mentor text review by Riss Leung of ‘Azaria: a True History’ https://www.ozlitteacher.com.au/mentortexts/mentor-text-review-azaria-a-true-history/