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A Lemon for Safiya

Jun17
A Lemon for Safiya

A Lemon for Safiya

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Lemon for Safiya

Jemima Shafei-Ongu

Nisaluk Chantanakom

Lothian, 2025

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9780734422224

“It was Safiya who first spotted the woman sitting on the edge of the footpath, sock-sandalled feet in the gutter, busy cars speeding past.”

And so begins a compassionate and compelling story of Safiya and her parents taking their time to find where the old woman has come from, because clearly the gutter is not her home.  Yet no one else has bothered to stop to help this elderly lady who has become invisible to society because of her ethnicity, race, religion, language, age and now dementia – a story that is sadly echoed as so many develop tunnel vision as they race about their daily lives.  

But to Safiya’s family, particularly her mother who speaks Arabic and can communicate with the woman, she is neither invisible or ignored and not only do they manage to find her family but learn a little about the life she has lead, including the significance of the lemon she is clutching.  “Every line on her face seemed to hold a story.” The final image is touching and suggests that not only has Maryam lived many stories but a new one has begun.

As the Baby Boomer generation ages and dementia and other age-related illnesses take their toll, sadly there are many who seem to be forgotten and unseen by society generally and the isolation is compounded when communications break down through either a lack of English or the loss or memory.  Luckily, Maryam’s family had ensured she had an identity bracelet to help with just this situation but the fear of a loved one wandering off is ever-present.  

While this story puts a face and personal context to this growing issue it is nevertheless a universal story – one playing out in so many families regardless of their heritage, language and beliefs.  We can only hope that if Maryam were our elderly relative, it would be a Safiya who noticed her. 

Walking the Rock Country in Kakadu

Mar12
Walking the Rock Country in Kakadu

Walking the Rock Country in Kakadu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walking the Rock Country in Kakadu

Karrire kundenge karribolknan kunwarddehwardde

Diane Lucas & Ben Tyler

Emma Long

A & U  Children’s, 2024

32oo., hbk., RRP $A29.99

9781761067860

Australia is a land of so many different landscapes and landshapes, with its  diverse topography, geology, rainfall and seasonal changes meaning there is an incredible range of vegetation and thus living inhabitants.  Not the least of these is Kunwarddehwardde, the rock country of the Arnhem Land plateau which extends into Kakadu National Park, an area of almost 20 000 km² in  in the far north of the Northern Territory and home of many First Nations clans for 40 000 years and rich in cave paintings, rock carvings and archaeological sites that record the skills and lifestyle of these peoples over the millennia.

In this stunningly illustrated book, the team behind the CBCA shortlisted Walking in Gagudju Country: Exploring the Monsoon Forest, once again take the reader on a wondrous journey through this jaw-dropping country, this time during yekke, the early dry season, to see what is there.  Through commentary that seamlessly incorporates the Kindjeyhmi language (with icons that explain what is being  identified)  interwoven through the vivid, detailed illustrations, the reader not only learns to use their eyes, ears and nose but to really use them keenly for there is much that is there but which is often overlooked.  As well as pointing out these hidden gems like the alyurr that grow in the rock crevices, their ancient stories are also shared – hidden among these tiny plants are tiny grasshoppers  known as the Lightning People’s children, coming out of the soil as the rains begin, gradually shedding their skins and revealing their bright colours so they can find a mate. 

A peek inside...

A peek inside…

As well as the explanatory text there is also an illustrated glossary that offers both English translations (and Latin where appropriate) as well as being a sort of “Where’s Wally ” challenge as you return to the page to try to find the things you missed.  Wide-ranging teachers’ notes are available from the publisher’s page, including a link to both a reading of the story, and the glossary – also accessible via a QR code from the introductory page of the book. 

Lucas’s first book, Walking with the Seasons in Kakadu, published 20 years ago led the way to opening up this land to our young readers so they could begin to understand its ancient stories and those who shared them and this stunning book continues the tradition. Like its predecessors, this has also been acknowledged as a Notable for the 2025 CBCA Book of the Year Awards Eve Pownall Award.

Certainly one that will encourage readers to book an adventure.

Giinagay Juluum, Hello Mountains

Nov2
Giinagay Juluum, Hello Mountains

Giinagay Juluum, Hello Mountains

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giinagay Juluum, Hello Mountains

Melissa Greenwood

ABC Books, 2024

24pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9780733343025

The juluum (mountain) watches over us as we walk proudly on Country.
Me, Jinda, Miimi and Gami take note of all the subtle changes in nature
as we walk up, up the rocky path towards the peaks…

As the mountains and their ancestors watch over them, the family under the guidance of Aunty make their way through the oft-trodden pathways to the mountain peaks for the corroboree acknowledging and respecting the land and it inhabitants  as they go.  It is Spring and there is fresh, green growth on the trees (jaliigirrin). birds are singing, and the bandicoots (duura), kangaroos (nunguu), koalas (dunggiirr),  snakes (dungguuny) and goannas (wirriiga) are calling, moving and mating while the bindarray (river) rises and falls with the snow melt, threading through the land connecting everything and bringing life to all.

And as they walk barefoot through the landscape, the children learn its stories, how it was made and how to walk it respectfully and pay homage to those who have gone before and those who will come after.

Much as I love the ocean and its endless motion soothes my soul, my home now is in Australia’s mountains, and, while so different from the mountains of my homeland in the south of New Zealand’s South Island, there is nothing quite like the silence, solitude  and  size of this land, such as is spread before me as I write this.  I can see much of what is described in the story – all except the river although the Murrumbidgee is only 200 metres at the bottom of the valley – and while we are not blessed with duura or dunggiirr we do have kangaroos, wallabies, possums, echidnas, wombats aplenty and the most amazing parade of native birdlife.  For now it is the season of the crimson rosella and the magpie, but soon it will be the cockatoos, galahs, gang gangs and kookaburras as the new Spring growth turns to flowers and seeds as the warmth spreads.  

So while Giinagay Gaagal, Hello Ocean took me back to my roots of growing up on the seashore of Bluff, this one brings me into the here and now revitalising the senses that drew me here originally. 

As with its predecessor, the text is woven together by stunning artwork that tells its own story and the full text is included in both English and Gumbaynggir in the final pages, adding to the resources for preserving and revitalising First Nations languages.  But most significantly, as again they thank the land for its protection and it awaits their return, there is that inner feeling of being in the moment, taking note of surroundings and what is going on in them, seeing through eyes not a camera lens and being connected that gives meaning to the now-familiar Acknowledgement of Country so that it more than a collection of words, encouraging readers to see with new eyes and listen with new ears.   

Djinang Bonar: Seeing Seasons

Sep11
Djinang Bonar: Seeing Seasons

Djinang Bonar: Seeing Seasons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Djinang Bonar: Seeing Seasons

Ebony Froome

Leanne Zilm

Fremantle Press, 2024

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781760994211

In some parts of Australia, the yellow of wattles and daffodils, fierce winds and can’t-make-up-their-mind temperatures are heralding Spring, one of four distinct seasons that our littlies learn about.  In other parts, the heat and humidity are starting to build as the monotonous dry season ends and the Wet comes in with its tumultuous times: and in others First Nations peoples are seeing other signs as they move through their traditional cycles.  For the Noongar in south-west region of Western Australia, this is the time of Djilba, the season of conception when the “koolbardi is swooping to protect his nest, when the dark emu is high in the kedalak sky, when the balgga stems emerge tall and strong, when the yonga and the koomool carry their babies.”

For generations, so many children have been taught that during this planet’s annual journey around the sun, we experience just four seasons – Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter – but now perspectives are widening and beautiful books like this show that different peoples in different places have entirely different timeframes and different names for the patterns of Nature and its phenomena.  For those on Noongar boodja there are six seasons, each with its own distinct signs and times…

  • Birak—season of the young. First summer: December-January. …
  • Bunuru—season of adolescence. Second summer: February-March. …
  • Djeran—season of adulthood. Autumn: April-May. …
  • Makuru—season of fertility. Winter: June-July. …
  • Djilba—season of conception. First spring: August-September. …
  • Kambarang—season of birth.

Written in a mix of English and Noongar but with indigenous words easily distinguishable by looking at the beautiful illustrations (with a glossary for clarification), the reader is taken on a journey through the calendar that, unlike the “English” version which has changes in weather at its heart. focuses on the subtle but significant changes that happen in the life of the local flora and fauna and form the patterns and cycles of life.

But even children on the East Coast, or those for whom Noongar is not their first language can appreciate the beauty and value of this book because it encourages them to look beyond those most obvious signs of change (many of which involve introduced species anyway) and examine the changes in the original, natural environment, and, indeed, their connections and interdependence.  “On Noongar boodja, we know the season is Kambarang when… the kaaril [blue swimmer crab]  is spawning and it’s best not take them.”  It could also inspire an investigation into the indigenous weather knowledge of their own country  as they not only learn to appreciate the knowledge that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have developed over thousands and thousands of years, but also better understand that connection to Country that is at the heart of their culture.

Just Like You

Aug24
Just Like You

Just Like You/ Bitjan Nhakuna Nhe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just Like You/ Bitjan Nhakuna Nhe

Natashia Curtin

Walker Books, 2024

40pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781760658069

Sometimes the world of today’s children seems so very different from that of their parents, particularly given the advances of and accessibility to technology,  but when you put that aside, literally and figuratively, it turns out that both generations like the same things – playing with friends, building cubbies, dancing to music, jumping in puddles, having cuddles… 

In this dual -language picture book, Natashia Curtin draws inspiration from her time growing up in Arnhem Land in a unique exploration of the universality of childhood as she shows her child that they share a love for the same things – it’s just that grew up in a Yolngu township in the Northern Territory rather than the city and so while both generations enjoy a picnic in the park or jumping into the pool, the settings are very different.  By the clever juxtaposition of the illustrations ,and the use of both English and Gupapuynu, young readers can follow both journeys and enjoy the similarities and differences at the same time.  

Regardless of the nature of the reader’s heritage, this is an opportunity to explore how similar childhood likes are for everyone, regardless of the time or place and there are discussion notes to help guide the conversations.  As well as a wonderful tool to help bridge the gap across generations, some children might be surprised to find that those who “have come across the seas” enjoy the same things they do, even if they do it in a different way, again building conversations, connections, and ultimately, communities.  There ls all sorts of scope to use the dual-language nature of this book to reach out to those whose mother tongue is not English to share their words for the activities, building a multi-lingual display that demonstrates, that for children, play is universal. 

This has the potential to be so much more than a reminiscing between mother and daughter, and for that, deserves a place in the collection as well as promotion for any studies of families and where they have come from.  

Yanga Mother

Jul19
Yanga Mother

Yanga Mother

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yanga Mother

Cheryl Leavy

Christopher Bassi

UQP, 2024

24pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9780702268311

For younger readers, this is a beautifully illustrated story of the power of the bond between a mother grey kangaroo and her joey, told in both English and Kooma, the traditional lands in the Murray-Darling Basin region.

Wandaguli Yanga. There is always Mother.

But for those a little older, it is about the bonds between mother and child anywhere, and, in this particular case, as the notes explain, it “honours the strength and dignity of the women of Western Queensland, mardi matriarchs, and all First Nations mothers.” In particular it is the story of the author’s grandmother who was one of the many children of the Stolen Generation of the 1930s, and how before she was taken her mother told her that if they were separated, she need only look at the clouds in the sky to know that her mother was watching over her.

The grey kangaroo, and its need to stay connected to its mob, symbolises  both the connection between mother and young and animal and Country and teachers’ notes  explain and explore these concepts further, including links to sites with even further information.

But even without the indigenous aspect, young children can draw parallels between the way the mother kangaroo looks after and teaches her joey in a similar way to their mother looking after them, making it an ideal way to celebrate those bonds and connections between families.

For a more in-depth look at this story and its origins,  read Margot Lindgren’s blog post

Words Between Us

Apr17
Words Between Us

Words Between Us

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Words Between Us

Angela Pham Krans

Dung Ho

HarperCollins US, 2024

40pp., hbk., RRP $A29.99

9780063224544

Felix and Grandma have always lived oceans apart—until the day Grandma arrives in the city from Vietnam. Felix is so excited to meet Grandma and spend time with her. But it’s tricky when he speaks no Vietnamese and she speaks no English. They get by with both showing each other special things like Felix’s pet iguana Pete and Grandma showing him how to care for the garden but one day, when Felix and Grandma are visiting a big festival,  Grandma gets lost and doesn’t know how to ask for help.  It is then that Felix decides to teach her English, and by working together and teaching each other, they bond closely as they learn to share words as well, culminating in their shared love of pizza.

With end papers that have flashcard translations of common words, (and Grandma’s recipe for pizza), this is another story like I Hear a Buho and Giovanni  that allows us to share and celebrate the languages spoken by our students as they take the opportunity to teach us the common words for the things that unite us regardless of our heritage.  Having bilingual books in our collections and actively promoting them is a way that we can build bridges and open doorways for those who are not native English speakers by showing them that we value what they can bring to the teaching and learning experience.  

For many newcomers to this country not speaking the common language can be a very isolating experience, compounding the difficulties of what must have already been a difficult decision, but if we can reach out to families through stories – perhaps even inviting them into the library to share the stories of their childhood in their own language to encourage those of the same background to hear them and learn about them – we show the parents, particularly the mothers, that we care and that their child will not be lost.  And, in return, we all gain so much!!!

I Hear a Búho

Apr14
I Hear a Búho

I Hear a Búho

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Hear a Búho

Raquel Mackay

Armando Fonseca

Scribble Kids, 2024

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781761380495

As night falls, a  mother and daughter snuggle together in a hammock on their porch, and listen to the sounds of the night. The young girl makes animal calls and her mother responds, identifying the creatures in Spanish while the striking illustrations identify them for those who don’t speak that language. Then to their surprise a real búho appears and flies across the night sky.

When she was little, Ms Almost-18 and I drove regularly between Canberra and Cooma and on the way she would delight in teaching me the Spanish words that she learned from watching Dora the Explorer and took even more delight in the words she knew and which I didn’t (and I had to guess from her clues).  Children are fascinated by other languages and so this new book, the first bilingual text from this publisher, not only gives young Spanish-speaking readers the buzz of seeing their language celebrated in a book but also offers non-Spanish speakers some new words to add to their vocabularies so they, too, can baffle their elders.

I recently gave another bilingual book to a friend teaching a couple of Italian-speaking children and she told me that the doors it opened and the bridges it built between school and home were remarkable as the whole family got involved in sharing it, so we should never underestimate the power of acknowledging the languages spoken by our children and demonstrating to parents that we do this.  The animals that are featured in this seemingly simple rhyming story are a dog, cat, frog and owl, so how inclusive would it be if we invited all students to teach us what their words for these creatures are, and then extend that to teaching us their words for other creatures that we see around us in the local environment, or for the sounds we hear as night falls.  The sights and  sounds of the city are very different to the sights and  sounds of the country.

As with many well-written picture books that appear at first glance to be for the very young, in the hands of an imaginative teacher they can become powerful teaching tools for all ages, and this one has great potential too.  

Miimi and Buwaarr, Mother and Baby

Apr7
Miimi and Buwaarr, Mother and Baby

Miimi and Buwaarr, Mother and Baby

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miimi and Buwaarr, Mother and Baby

Melissa Greenwood

ABC Books, 2024

24pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9780733343018

Being your miimi (mother) is the most precious gift life can give.

When you were born you opened my heart as wide as the ocean.

There is no stronger bond than that between mother and child and using a palette as soft and gentle as the accompanying text,  Gumbaynggir storyteller, artist and designer Melissa Greenwood, has created an ode between mother and newborn that tells the baby of the connections to their family, totems, language and environment both past and present and how they can draw on the characteristics  to guide and protect them through their journey through life. 

While it is a story that echoes the feeling between any mother and newborn. it is expressed in a way that shows the long, strong connections to family, land and culture that reach far into the past of First Nations families.

While it is written in a combination of English and Gumbaynggirr  with a full Gumbaynggirr translation included, at the end, it is nevertheless one that could be in any language spoken in the world, so universal is it message. And as children learn their mother language-its meaning, its rhythm, its expression, its nuances -whatever it is, through listening to it, there is much that they absorb during these personal, precious moments beyond that expression of love. Therefore, these sort of lullabies have a unique place in language learning and should not only be among the gifts given to any new mother but also be the first in the baby’s library, regardless of their heritage..

Giovanni

Jan1
Giovanni

Giovanni

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giovanni

Crystal Corocher

Margeaux Davis

Wombat Books, 2023

32pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781761111235

In 1881, four-year-old Giovanni and his family and local villagers leave the Veneto region of Italy bound for Australia having been promised “paradise” only to find that they are in the hands of a people smuggler with a rickety boat, little food and no real concern for their safety, let alone comfort.  Eventually stranded on a beach in Noumea, they were in despair of ever reaching Australia dying in huge numbers from bad food, mosquitoes, undrinkable water and back-breaking work in the monsoon season. 

But hearing of their plight, Sir Henry Parkes, the “father of Federation” but then colonial secretary of NSW sent a boat to rescue them and 22 families eventually settled on the NSW north coast in what was to become known as New Italy and the start of the Italian migration to Australia that continues today.

Told by the great-granddaughter of Giovanni, with a concurrent Italian translation by Jada Valpato,  this is a story meticulously researched that tells of an almost-forgotten part of Australia’s migration history, making it one for both younger and older readers, particularly those of Italian heritage.  Coupled with links to resources such as the New Italy Museum, this is definitely one for the collection for both your Italian families as well as any study of Australia’s immigration history.