Tag: indigenous stories

Bush and Beyond: Stories from Country by Tjalaminu Mia, Jessica Lister, Jaylon Tucker and Cheryl Kickett-Tucker

I’ve got a secret and I’m so excited!
Actually, I’ve got two secrets and that makes me feel really happy inside.
‘What are you grinning at, Debbie?’ my brother Billy asks.
‘Nothing.’ I don’t want him guessing my secrets.

Bush and Beyond is a collection of stories from Country. The four stories were originally published as individual books. ‘Bush Secrets’ is the story of Debbie and Dada Keen who share a bushwalk and in ‘Yippee! Summer Holidays’ they spend more time together. In ‘Barlay’ Nan tells Sarah and her siblings about a traditional bush protector. ‘Lucky Thamu’ sees Eli and Thamu take a trip into the bush near Kalgoorlie. Each story is accompanied by black and white illustrations on most openings.

Bush and Beyond celebrates the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren, from the perspective of individual grandchildren. It also offers an understanding about the importance of passing knowledge between the generations. This collection offers Aboriginal children an opportunity to see their world reflected in literature, and everyone else a peek into what it means to be indigenous Australian. Recommended for newly independent readers.

Bush and Beyond: Stories from Country, Tialaminu Jia, Jessica Lister, Jaylon Tucker and Cheryl Kickett-Tucker
Fremantle Press 2018 ISBN: 9781925591132

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller
www.clairesaxby.com

Lucky Thamu by Cheryl Kickett-Tucker & Jaylon Tucker

‘Come on, Eli!’ shouted Dad. ‘Just throw your jocks in the bag next to your socks – that way you’ll remember to change your jocks as well.’

‘Ahh. Don’t embarrass me, Dad,’ replied Eli.

Ten-year-old Eli was a Noongar-Wongi kid. His mum was a Noongar from the south-west of Western Australia and his dad was a Wongi from the north-eastern Goldfields. Elie was a gentle, shy boy with a birthmark shaped like a boomerang just above his right eye and shiny black hair down to his collar. Eli had four older brothers, two older sisters, two dogs named Bunthar (look out) and Moorditj (solid), and a fat, fluffy ginger cat named Inni (yes).

‘Come on, Eli!’ shouted Dad. ‘Just throw your jocks in the bag next to your socks – that way you’ll remember to change your jocks as well.’

‘Ahh. Don’t embarrass me, Dad,’ replied Eli.

Ten-year-old Eli was a Noongar-Wongi kid. His mum was a Noongar from the south-west of Western Australia and his dad was a Wongi from the north-eastern Goldfields. Elie was a gentle, shy boy with a birthmark shaped like a boomerang just above his right eye and shiny black hair down to his collar. Eli had four older brothers, two older sisters, two dogs named Bunthar (look out) and Moorditj (solid), and a fat, fluffy ginger cat named Inni (yes).

Perth-raised Eli is going to visit this grandfather (Thamu) and his grandmother (Garbarli) in Kalgoorlie for the school holidays. He’s visited before but this time is extra-special as it’s the first time he’s going on his own. He wants to be just like his grandfather when he grows up. He loves Thamu’s all of Thamu’s stories. This time, Thamu has an extra surprise. They are going camping and prospecting. Eli is keen to learn everything and perhaps to find a gold nugget of his own.

Lucky Thamu is a new title in the Waarda series of stories from Fremantle Press. They are short, action-packed stories for young readers and are supported by online teacher notes. Each title presents indigenous stories and culture. Lucky Thamu is a contemporary story and portrays the special and important relationship that exists between grandparent and grandchild. Their adventure in the bush is enriched by story and shared experience. Recommended for newly-independent readers.

 

Lucky Thamu , Cheryl Kickett-Tucker & Jaylon Tucker Fremantle Press 2014 ISBN: 9781925161304

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com