jessica lister – Aussie Reviews

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

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

Yippee! Summer Holidays by Tjalaminu Mia and Jessica Lister

It’s the first day of the holidays and the world is looking rosy. The only thing that will make it better is a visit from Debbie and Billie’s grandfather.

‘Wake up, wake up, Debbie!’ Billy yells with delight as he runs into my bedroom. ‘Yippee, yippee, we don’t have school today, it’s the holidays!’

‘Yippee is Billy’s favourite word and I’m getting sick of hearing it.

‘Go away, Billy, it’s still dark outside. I want to sleep some more.’

Billy gets up so early on the holidays!

It’s the first day of the holidays and the world is looking rosy. The only thing that will make it better is a visit from Debbie and Billie’s grandfather. He organises tyre races and other fun things. But he’s also a storyteller, sharing stories of his childhood and of the stories he learned then. Through the stories and their time together, he teaches Debbie about the world around her and her part in it. He teaches her old truths and new truths.

Yippee! Summer Holidays is part of Fremantle Press series Yaarda, written by indigenous storytellers and sharing indigenous stories. Debbie and her younger can-be-annoying brother both enjoy their life, full of open air and free time. They also very much enjoy being part of an extended family, and sharing and learning with their grandfather. In this Yaarda title, the story mirrors that of the writers, a grandmother and granddaughter. ‘Yippee!’ combines a contemporary tale with traditional learning. Text is interspersed with black and white illustrations, making it perfect for newly independent readers.

Yippee! Summer Holidays, Tjalaminu Mia and Jessica Lister
Fremantle Press 2012
ISBN: 9781921888724

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author

www.clairesaxby.com

Bush Secrets, by Tjalaminu and Jessica Lister

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.
‘You’ve got a secret, haven’t you?’
‘No I haven’t.’
‘Yes you have! I can tell! What is it, Debbie?’
‘I’m not telling you, Billy!’

Debbie is excited that she has two secrets but she doesn’t want to tell her younger brother Billy, because he’s too young to understand how important secrets can be. When Dada Keen comes to visit, he understands. He and Debbie go into the bush for a day, and he shares secrets of his own. There are black and white illustrations scattered throughout. The cover is bright and enticing and suggests but doesn’t reveal the secrets.

Bush Secrets is a title in a new series from Fremantle Press. They are early chapter books written by indigenous writers bringing new stories to all. For indigenous people they are stories that continue a long history of oral storytelling. For non indigenous people these stories provide access to a rich storytelling practice. Bush Secrets is a marriage of traditional style and modern stories. It is written by grandmother and granddaughter team, Tjalaminu Mia and Jessica Lister, giving new interpretation to the storysharing tradition. Chapters are short and accessible to the newly independent reader. Recommended for 6-8 year olds.

Bush Secrets, Tjalaminu and Jessica Lister
Fremantle Press 2009
ISBN: 9781921361593

This book can be purchased online at Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author
www.clairesaxby.com