This Is Us: Essential Australian Poems for Young People by Libby Hathorn and Jude Fell, illustrated by Tull Suwannakit

Title: This Is Us: Essential Australian Poems for Young People

Author: Libby Hathorn and Jude Fell, illustrated by Tull Suwannakit

Genre: Poetry

Publisher: NLA Publishing

Published: 1^st November 2025

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 112

Price: $34.99

Synopsis: In this beautifully illustrated collection of poems, editors Judith Fell and Libby Hathorn have have gathered the voices of all kinds of Australians, from modern poets such as Miriam Wei Wei Lo and Jazz Money to household names such as Banjo Paterson and Henry Lawson.

Carefully crafted into 10 chapters, readers will find poems that make them laugh (like You and I by C. J. Dennis and Things That Go Squark by Peter Wesley-Smith) and sing, and connect them with Australians old and new.

This is a collection to have on standby. To pore over both words and artwork. It’s a coffee table book, a library book, a bedside book, a beach towel, riverside or city-side book. Most of all a poetry book to savour and to share.

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Poetry is a form that has been part of humanity for centuries. This latest collection has been put together by Libby Hathorn and Jude Fell, and includes some of their poems as well. The poems in this book are from contemporary and classic poets, with delights like Bellbirds and The Man from Ironbark sitting alongside new poems, so there is something there for everyone in this new poetry anthology for readers of all ages.

What’s so cool about this book? It’s divided into ten themed chapters, so you can find a poem that suits your needs, whether it’s a funny poem. A song-like poem, or a poem to discover another culture or time. There’s sure to be something for everyone, because Libby and Jude have worked to create a diverse book that covers history, gender, language, culture and connections to Country. All the things that show what makes Australia what it is. Over thousands of years, so many people, languages and cultures have shaped Australia. Reflecting these themes in poetry, songs or literature shows our nation’s diversity, and that the many voices have had something to say. Something to reflect on over the years. And whilst these poems are written, they all have a lyrical, oral tradition quality about them that reflects the history of storytelling across countries, generations and cultures, and the importance of the oral tradition. It is where poetry and storytelling began in ancient lands, how First Nations people shared their stories and knowledge for millennia, and how we share stories today with very young children.

This is a work of art, from the words that float across the pages to the gorgeous and luscious illustrations by Tull Suwannakit. They perfectly capture the heart and soul of the poems, and bring them to life. It’s certainly a book to be treasured, because there is something in here for everyone. It is for the whole family, and can be used for entertainment and education.

It’s not just about one aspect of Australia. It’s every aspect of Australia and what it means or represents for the people who have contributed poems to this book. It is joy, and sorrow, it is humour and delight. It is wonder and looking forward, and finding how we fit into the world. It’s a book of joy that takes the reader on many journeys, and it can be read cover-to-cover, or you can dip in and out based on your mood or the poems you want to read, or maybe you want to focus on a specific themed chapter. There are many ways to read and enjoy this book, and it might just get people into poetry, and show them that a poem can be many different things.

It’s a book of beauty, and one that is sure to be well-read, well-loved and well-used in homes and schools across the country.