Making Tracks takes young readers on a fictional journey through fascinating Australian stories, inspired by objects from the National Museum of Australia’s collection.
The series was written and illustrated by leading Australian children’s authors and artists. Some titles are out of stock. Every title has classroom resources including a synopsis, discussion questions, worksheets and other classroom activities.
Available by order through bookshops and educational suppliers
by Susanne Gervay
Daisy and her mum have just moved into the Grand Private Hotel belonging to Mr and Mrs Papadopolous. It’s all new and strange, but Nina, Old Dot, the Colonel and especially Rainbow Rose are there to help them make a new life for themselves. But what’s so special about the year 1975?
- Inspired by a 1970s ‘Superwoman’ T-shirt
- See Daisy Sunshine classroom resources.
by Ursula Dubosarsky
Tibby feels like everything is going wrong. Her big brother Clarence is all grown up, and doesn’t want to play with her any more. If Clarence says there aren’t any pixies except in books, then what exactly did Tibby see in the bush, peering out from behind a leaf?
- Inspired by a postcard called ‘Off to the war’ designed by May Gibbs and featuring her famous gumnut fairies
- See Tibby’s Leaf classroom resources.
by Felicity Pulman
Maggie is working as a children’s nurse in the big house when she finds a copybook and decides to teach herself to read. She knows she shouldn’t really take the book, and things only get worse when the mistress sends her home in disgrace.
- Inspired by a 19th-century child’s copybook
- See Turning the Page classroom resources.
by Hazel Edwards
John loves to fiddle with things, but when he connects a broken webcam to an old telescope he is in for a shock. Suddenly he finds himself looking back in time, caught up in a very ‘cool’ Antarctic adventure.
- Features the telescope that belonged to John Collinson Close, a member of Sir Douglas Mawson’s 1911 Antarctic expedition
- See Antarctic Close-up classroom resources.
by Kirsty Murray
When George is sentenced to seven years’ hard labour in Van Diemen’s Land his only thoughts are of his sister Hannah. What can he give her to remember him when he is so far away?
- Features a convict love token
- See A Penny to Remember classroom resources.
by Christopher Cheng
Danny knows that he has to respect his uncle and do as he says, even if that means joining him on a sewing trip to the goldfields. Danny would rather be anywhere else ... until he takes things into his own hands!
- Features a sewing basket used on the New South Wales goldfields
- See Seams of Gold classroom resources.
by Wendy Orr
Trung’s adventure begins in the dead of night. He and his father escape the soldiers with guns. But what awaits them across the dark sea?
- Features the Hong Hai, a fishing boat used to flee Vietnam after the war
- See Across the Dark Sea classroom resources.
by Dianne Bates
Polly and James accidentally overhear a gang of bushrangers plotting to hold up the Governor. Their first thought is to tell their parents and become heroes for saving the day. But then they find out their dad might be helping the bushrangers! They need to stop him, but how?
- Features the magnificent Ranken coach
- See The Hold-up Heroes classroom resources.
by Jackie French
Billy’s having a really bad day. No family, no friends, no fun and now he has to save his four-legged mate, Dusty, from certain death! Will the strangers by the side of the road be able to help him before it’s too late?
- Features the magnificent Crossley car
- See One Perfect Day classroom resources.
Out of print
by Kirsty Murray
Ruby doesn’t like working for the Nortons. She wants to go back to Alice Springs to live with her mum. Will Idris, the Afghan boy who works with the camels, help her return home?
- Inspired by a photograph of camels and their driver, taken by Herbert Basedow at Oodnadatta in 1903
- See The Red Camel classroom resources.
by Libby Hathorn
Sally Smyth-with-a-y desperately wants an adventure! What better place to find one than spending the summer in a caravan at the beach? There might be pirate ships, or maybe even a beach rescue. Whatever happens, she’s ready for it ... or is she?
- Features the treasured Propert caravan
- See Caravan Kids classroom resources.
by Jackie French
Sam’s Saturday begins like any other but he is soon battling wind, flames and blackened skies as he desperately tries to find his home.
- Features the burnt wheel and hub of a fire truck destroyed in the 2003 Canberra bushfires
- See The Day I Was History classroom resources.
by Sally Morgan
Things are not going well for Alex. It looks as if he is going to be filmed by a national news crew standing next to his tree-hugging, slogan-yelling, long-haired grandfather. How embarrassing! But perhaps there is a little more going on with Gramps and his friends than Alex realises.
- Features the rabbit-proof fence
- See The Other Side classroom resources.
by Anthony Hills
Nat is asked to help out on a paddle-steamer. It’s his dream and he’s even getting paid for it! But he’s got a secret that could not only risk his own life but the lives of the entire crew ...
- Features the magnificent PS Enterprise
- See River Boy classroom resources.
by Gary Crew
Jo Boy’s mother has warned him to stay away from gypsies — she says they steal kids and sell them to butchers for mincemeat. But when he comes across a bright, shiny caravan one day, his curiosity gets the better of him ...
- Features the intriguing Saw Doctor’s wagon
- See The Saw Doctor classroom resources.
by Libby Gleeson
Ray lied to the school bullies and now he has to find a way into the Olympics before the Leary boys make mincemeat out of him.
- Features an original ABC outside television broadcast van
- See Ray’s Olympics classroom resources.
by Justin D’Ath
Robbie can’t swim or play games and everyone treats him like a baby. But with one gust of wind things start getting very interesting ...
- Features a Chevrolet truck built during the Second World War
- See Robbie and the Dolphins classroom resources.