In a series of colorful children’s books, the “down under” branch of Scholastic Press delivers the storytelling and artistic skills of Australia’s aboriginal people to an international audience.
How the Birds Got Their Colours (2004, compiled by Pamela Lofts, 32 pages, first published 1983) takes shape from a story told by Mary Albert of the Bardi people to aboriginal children in Broome, Western Australia. Then the youngsters painted the book’s illustrations. The tale stars an injured dove helped by a parrot and other winged creatures.
Similarly, the Kija people’s George Mung Mung Lirrmiyarri shared a story with aboriginal youngsters in Turkey Creek, also in Western Australia, and they then illustrated How the Kangaroos Got Their Tails (2004, compiled by Pamela Lofts, 32 pages, first published 1987). Evidently, the first kangaroos with tails acquired them after a dispute over “sugarbag” (wild bush honey).
Warnayarra, the Rainbow Snake (2004, also 32 pages, first published 1987), about a destructive creature that travels with storms, provides another highlight in a collection of aboriginal stories compiled by Lofts. This time the storytellers and illustrators are a class of aboriginal students from Lajamanu by the Tanami Desert in the Northern Territory.
As the Warnayarra book says, “The traditions of song, dance and storytelling continue. Old stories are passed on and new stories evolve, providing an understanding of reality and strengthening and enriching a culture whose wisdom has, for thousands of years, sustained, and continues to sustain, aboriginal people.”
Similar books to Lofts’ credit include: Dunbi the Owl, When the Snake Bites the Sun, The Echidna and the Shade Tree, The Kangaroo and the Porpoise and The Bat and the Crocodile.
Although printed in distant Hong Kong, these books effectively share aspects of Australia’s original culture. Storytelling’s always an ideal way to share knowledge, build understanding and bridge chasms between people.
(April 6, 2007))
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