Budinge and the Min Min Lights by Uncle Joe Kirk, with Greer Casey and Sandi Harrold ill Sandi Harrold

Budinge lived with his grandmother in an old wooden house beside a waterhole, deep in the Australian bush.

Each evening Budinge would take his fishing rod to the waterhole. He would sit on his favourite rock and he would fish until bedtime.

One night he noticed a bright light twinkling through the trees.

‘Hmmm,’ he wondered, ‘What can it be?’

Oh goodness me! Oh goodness me!

I think that thing is watching me!

Budinge lived with his grandmother in an old wooden house beside a waterhole, deep in the Australian bush.

Each evening Budinge would take his fishing rod to the waterhole. He would sit on his favourite rock and he would fish until bedtime.

One night he noticed a bright light twinkling through the trees.

‘Hmmm,’ he wondered, ‘What can it be?’

Oh goodness me! Oh goodness me!

I think that thing is watching me!

Budinge lives happily with his grandmother in the bush. One evening when fishing, he sees a bright twinkling light and remembers his grandmother’s story about the Min Min lights. The Min Min lights come to naughty children and entice them away from their homes. Budinge watches as another light appears, then the two lights unite to become one. He flees as they come towards him, finally diving into his bed and pulling the covers over his head. After a while he becomes brave enough to have another look. He discovers that the light is made up on many small lights – a cluster of fireflies. He is no longer scared and enjoys playing with the fireflies. Throughout there is a refrain that escalates the tension. The final words ask the reader to think about why Buddinge’s grandmother might have told him this story. Each opening has text set in a coloured page on the left with illustrations occupying the right page.

Budinge and the Min Min Lights is a dreaming story from Uncle Joe Kirk, intended to help young readers understand Aboriginal culture. It’s easy to imagine this as an oral tale shared with and passed to the next generation. The refrain adds to the tension and demonstrates Budinge’s growing fear. The night bush landscape can appear threatening and dangerous, but may not be if you can learn to read and understand it. Recommended for early primary-readers and anyone wanting to extend their knowledge of Australia’s traditional stories.

Budinge and the Min Min Lights, Uncle Joe Kirk with Greer Casey and Sandi Harrold, ill Sandi Harrold Scholastic Australia 2015 ISBN: 9781743628577

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Duelgum: The Story of Mother Eel by Uncle Joe Kirk, with Greer Casey and Sandy Harrold ill Sandi Harrold

Duelgum, the mother eel, lived in a large waterhole, near the banks of the Brisbane River.

She loved her waterhole. It had everything she needed – reeds and waterlilies that gave her shelter from the hot midday sun, and yabbies, shrimp and frogs to eat whenever she was hungry.

Duelgum had made herself a cosy home under an old log where she could sleep peacefully, safe from danger.

Duelgum, the mother eel, lived in a large waterhole, near the banks of the Brisbane River.

She loved her waterhole. It had everything she needed – reeds and waterlilies that gave her shelter from the hot midday sun, and yabbies, shrimp and frogs to eat whenever she was hungry.

Duelgum had made herself a cosy home under an old log where she could sleep peacefully, safe from danger.

Duelgum opens with the mother eel happy in her watery home. One autumn night she realises that it is time for her to travel far away to lay her eggs. She sets out on her journey by travelling overland between her waterhole and the river that will lead her to the sea. She makes her journey and lays her eggs. The story then shifts to the story of the hatchlings who grow and grow before making their own journey back to the waterhole that was home to their mother. Illustrations set most of the text in white on colour on the left side of each opening, with paintings set in white on the right side. The final page offers information about the author, the story and the reason eels are an important part of the ecosystem.

Duelgum: The Story of the Mother Eel is a traditional story  from Uncle Joe Kirk, a Brisbane and Wakka Wakka elder about the life and travels of eels. It offers an introduction to these amazing animals who travel from fresh water to salt to lay their eggs. Told simply, Duelgum is a rich resource of story, nature, and culture. It offers multiple threads for classroom and home discussion and has resonance for a wide range of readers. Recommended for early- middle-schoolers.

 

Duelgum: The Story of the Mother Eel by Uncle Joe Kirk, with Greer Casey and Sandy Harrold ill Sandi Harrold.
Scholastic 2014 ISBN: 9781743623114

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Available from good bookstores and online.

Karana by Uncle Joe Kirk, with Greer Casey and Sandi Harrold, ill Sandi Harrold

Karana made a beautiful nest

Then groomed his feathers to look his best.

When emu ladies came strolling by,

He started his dance to catch their eye.

One lovely lady with very long legs,

Sat on his nest and laid SIXTEEN EGGS

Karana made a beautiful nest

Then groomed his feathers to look his best.

When emu ladies came strolling by,

He started his dance to catch their eye.

One lovely lady with very long legs,

Sat on his nest and laid SIXTEEN EGGS

Karana the father emu makes a nest. He courts a female emu then sits on the eggs until they hatch. When they hatch he rears them, showing them the foods to eat, keeping them safe until they are big enough to survive on their own. When his chicks are independent,  it’s time for Karana to make a new nest. Karanais told in simple rhyme with text in white set on coloured background with painted illustrations generally on single pages. Emu is inquisitive and engaging and his chicks delightful.

Karana tells the story of a father emu and his chicks. Text is simple and rhythmic with repetition, easy to listen to, easy to build on. Biographical information on the final page introduces Uncle Joe Kirk, a Wakka Wakka elder who is passionate about sharing traditional stories. The final page also offers information about the importance of the emu in Wakka Wakka culture. Karana is an engaging illustrated story for pre- and early-schoolers. It could also be used in a variety of ways with older children, connecting story with the land, and introducing science concepts. Recommended for pre- and early-schoolers.

Karana, Uncle Joe Kirk, with Greer Casey and Sandi Harrold, ill Sandi Harrold Scholastic Australia 2014 ISBN: 9781743623138

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com