Big book of Australian history by Peter Macinnis

2nd edition. National Library of Australia, 2015. ISBN 9780642278722
(Age: 8-Adult) Highly recommended. The 2nd edition of the CBCA Notable book Big book of Australian history will be a boon for teachers and school libraries as well as the avid history fan. Although this edition is a paperback it is sturdy and will prove to be an invaluable reference book for the researcher and a fabulous book to dip into for the casual reader who enjoys learning about interesting bits of Australian history.
The books covers the major sections of Australian history, starting with Ancient Australia, The Dreaming, Voyages of Discovery and continuing through early settlement, Federation, The Great Depressions and the world wars and culminating in a section about Embracing multiculturalism and On the world stage. The latter section of the book has been updated and the extensive piece on Cricket will be enjoyed by sporting enthusiasts.
The book is amply illustrated with original images that are held in the National Library. These have been carefully selected for their interest and historical relevance and greatly add to the reader's understanding of the history and social implications of the period. There is a page reference to them and the user can go to the National Library's website to get more details.
I love this book. Every time I open it I come across some fascinating bits of information that expand my knowledge and incite an interest in history and I am certain that it will do that for other readers as well
Pat Pledger