📯 Anzac Day 2024 Story Release 📯

Our 2024 ANZAC Day story release is The Good Son: A Story From the First World War Told in Miniature, and is written by Pierre-Jacques Ober, illustrated by Felicity Coonan and Jules Ober.

"It is Christmas time, 1914, and World War I rages all around. Pierre, a young French soldier, has quietly left his regiment to visit his family for two days. When he returns, he is imprisoned. This moving and sparsely narrated story - based on true events - is reenacted through fascinating miniature scenes that convey the emotional complexity of the tale." 

Note: This book is one for the big kids and is not suitable for children under the age of 10. If you're a parent or librarian, we strongly recommend that you watch this story first to make sure it's suitable for the children you’re thinking of sharing it with.

Further stories and Activity Time ideas can be found by entering ‘ANZAC Day’ in the ‘Search’ bar on your Resource page. And then look for the ‘Activity Time’ section. (We should note that these materials and stories are only available to active Story Box Library subscribers, though!).

📯ANZAC Day Holiday Reading Challenge for Public & School Libraries 📯

Encourage the kids in your learning and community space to enhance their knowledge of ANZAC Day by participating in the Story Box Library Holiday Reading Challenge.

There are four easy steps:

  1. Watch the story read.
  2. Learn more with Short Films.
  3. Play with Activity Time.
  4. Borrow and discover more!

Download a full pack of ANZAC Day Holiday Reading Challenge resources, including reading checklist, bookmarks and certificate of completion.

1. Watch the story read

Find dedicated titles via the ‘ANZAC Day stories’ playlist on your Story Box Library account dashboard, suitable for all age groups, including: One Minute’s Silence, Lone Pine, Anzac Biscuits, Anzac Ted, Alfred’s War, Once a Shepherd, I Was Only Nineteen, The Happiness Box, Midnight: The Story of a Light Horse, This Old Thing and The Good Son: A Story From the First World War Told in Miniature.

(Please note that some of our ANZAC Day titles may not be appropriate for younger children. Please check the ‘About the Story Tab’ on the story pages.)

2. Learn more with Short Films

Find Short Films on a range of themes, including behind-the-scenes looks at storytellers such as Pierre-Jacques and Jules Ober talking about the inspiration behind The Good Son and their creative process. Colonel John Molnar, who read our 2021 Anzac Day release, shares how Midnight: The Story of a Light Horse is also his story.

3. Play with Activity Time.

Most titles on Story Box Library come with Activity Time, instructional PDFs and videos linked to story themes, narratives, characters and more, inspiring young minds to get creative after watching the story read. Discover Activity Time instructions for our ANZAC Day stories, like how to Make Your Own Happiness Box or Create an Anzac Biscuit Care Package, via our Resources page’s Activity Time section.

4. Borrow and discover more!

Story Box Library connects families with a world of stories by extending your library’s collection anywhere there’s an internet connection and also encouraging them to visit their library and connect with their communities. After watching the stories, young readers can then go further by borrowing the books or other related titles from the library and inserting a bookmark review for the next borrower to find.

We'd love to see what you're doing in your community space, too!