Tara Treasures and Australiana Books

On what was meant to be a family bush walk through Warrandyte, my family wandered into the Warrandyte Riverside Market where we came across the delightful and whimsical stall for Tara Treasures. My girls and I were enthralled by the colours, the style and the overall ‘cute-ness’ of all the toys, decorations and other products. My mind went immediately to who I could possible buy a gift for, because I was certainly going to be buying something. One good thing about a big family is that there is always some needing a gift and we choose some finger puppets for a soon-to-be-born cousin.

As I perused all the stock my mind was racing about which books could be paired with these tiny treasures to make for a special gift. So unsponsored and with complete adoration of all their items, here are some of my recommendations for Australiana-themed gifts featuring Tara Treasures items and books by Australian authors and illustrators.

Eucalyptus and Gum Blossoms Garland and Australiana Gumnut Playscape Bag

Is this not just the most beautiful garland for a nursery, playroom or bedroom? It subtly brings the Australian bush indoors and it will last for years and years. For older children, the gumnut bag is the perfect accessory to motivate bush exploration and the collection of treasures.

Books that match:

My favourite illustrated gum blossoms are found in Tania McCartney’s semi-biographical picture book about May Gibbs, Mamie. Or you might want to go with one of the original or current May Gibbs books, such as Good Morning, Gumnut.

Large Australian Outback Play Mat Playscape

This stunning playscape will assist children as they set up stories that take place in the uniquely Australian desert or outback.

Books that match:

This playmat is ideal for encouraging children to playout indigenous stories. Bronwyn Bancroft is one of the most prominent indigenous children’s book illustrators , with titles such as Big Rain Coming (text by Katrina Germein), Why I love Australia, and Coming Home to Country (which I reviewed for Reading Time).

Adding some trucks and road signs to this mat and this is perfect for Hello From Nowhere, by Raewyn Caisley. With a family car and caravan and you could choose Are We There Yet?, by Alison Lester. By adding a dingo, wombat, platypus, emu, koala, echidna and lizard and you’ve got the perfect setting for the classic, Wombat Stew, by Marcia Vaughan and Pamela Lofts.

Great Barrier Reef Mobile, Coral Reef Mobile and Sea, Beach and Rockpool Play Mat Playscape

Oceans and reefs teem with life and action and can sometimes seem like another world. These underwater and beach items will bring children into that everchanging world where animals roam free.

Books that match:

I adore Aura Parker‘s illustration style, and The Silly Seabed Song would be a great match to these underwater items. Magic Beach, by Alison Lester depicts children frolicking, building, swimming and exploring their magic beach which fuels their imagination. The Big World, Tiny World series from Affirm Press has a book by Jess Racklyeft called Reef that explores the habitat of the Great Barrier Reef which many creatures call home.

Birds of Australia Finger Puppets Sets and Mobile

It was the finger puppets that got me completely stuck when I was at the Tara Treasure market store (and what I bought on the day). My kids and I spent about 20mins sorting through the big basket of animal finger puppets admiring and selecting. The bird finger puppets really impressed me as I’d never seen anything like them. Each bird is very identifiable and has the right level of detail for young children. The mobile combines Australian birds with the cute gumnut garland.

Books that match:

I matched a self-selected set of five Australian bird finger puppets with a copy of Busy Beaks, by Sarah Allen as the aesthetic of each was so complementary. Another stunning book featuring the lyrebird, the cassowary and other Australian birds is Tania McCartney’s Fauna: Australia’s Most Curious Creatures. Tania also collaborated with illustrator Jess Racklyeft on Ivy Bird, a fiction picture book about a girl who likes to pretend to be different birds. And with the stunning lyrebird finger puppet, I must mention Liarbird, but Laura and Philip Bunting.

Sleeping Koala Mobile and Australian Animals Hanging Mobile

Australian-themed children’s decorations are very on trend at the moment and these would take pride of place in a nursery or play space. The tones are very earthy and naturual.

Books that match:

Philip Bunting and Laura Bunting‘s books are such a wonderful aesthetic match for so many of Tara Treasures’ items, but these mobiles especially match well with Kookaburras Love to Laugh and Koalas Eat Gum Leaves. Little Koala Lost, by Blaze Kwaymullina and Jess Racklyeft follows a little lost koala who asks to live with various bush animals. My very favourite koala book is actually not by Australian creators, but I have to mention it anyway, The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright and Jim Field.

Other Australiana Book Suggestions

Below are a few more book suggestions that would pair really well with any of the Australiana items from Tara Treasures.

• Australia from Dawn to Dusk, by Brentos.
• Jumping Joeys, by Sarah Allen. I wrote a review for Reading Time, this has recently been released as a board book.
• Wombat, by Philip Bunting.
• Dreaming of Australia A to Z, by Jess Racklyeft.
• Plantastic: A to Z of Australian Plants, by Catherine Clowes and Rachel Gyan.
• Australia Illustrated, by Tania McCartney. See my review for Reading Time.
• I’m Australian Too, by Mem Fox and Ronojoy Ghosh. See my review here.