Tag: Sandi Harrold

The Creatures of Dryden Gully, by Aunty Ruth Hegarty & Sandi Harrold

The young Royal was taller than Joey and he had four long legs that all reached to the ground. Joey looked at his own short front paws and sighed.
“I wish I had four long legs that could take me wherever I wanted to go. Maybe the Royal joey could teach me,” he whispered hopefully.

Joey wants to be better at hopping, so that he can go wherever he wants to. So when outsiders – Royals (deer) – come to the valley, Joey envies their long legs, and wonders if he can learn from them. He follows them into the hills, but before he can talk to them, danger arrives, and Joey has to hide. When his mother finds him, she explains to him that he is special just as he is.

The Creatures of Dryden Gully is a picture book story about belonging, difference and being unique. Joey learns that being different does not make him less special. He also learns the reassurance of his mother’s love and understanding.

Aboriginal elder Dr Ruth Hegarty tells the story in clear language, allowing readers to learn from Joey’s experience. The illustrations use colours of the Australian landscape against textured backgrounds and are both gentle and warm.

A touching story.

The Creatures of Dryden Gully, by Aunty Ruth Hegarty, illustrated by Sandi Harrold
Scholastic, 2015
ISBN 9781760151997&

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

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