Additional information
| Weight | 362 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 240 × 280 × 7 mm |
| ISBN | 9781925877861 |
| Page extent | 36 |
| Publication Year | 2021 |
| Subject | Children, Children 6–10 years |
Grandfather Emu
$29.99 $17.99
Rhonda Collard-Spratt
Jacki Ferro
Poor old Grandfather Emu can hardly walk or see. Of all the bush animals, who will lead old Weij to the creek for food and water? In this fun Aboriginal Dreaming story, children learn how Mother Yonga Kangaroo got her pouch, and the importance of taking the time to help.
A donation will be made to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation for every book purchased.
Out of stock
Buzz Words Magazine –
Grandfather Emu is an Aboriginal Dreamtime story told by Aunty Rhonda Collard-Spratt (Aunty Curlew), a proud Yamatji-Noongar woman who is both a talented storyteller and artist. Her words resonate with wisdom as she opens our hearts to a wonderful Indigenous perspective about our land and animals. As you read you can feel Collard-Spratt’s voice speaking directly to you. Her deep connection to country is conveyed so well. Tree shadows grew long, and the sun set in the west. Her sentences evoke great imagery and emotion. I love that as you read you learn Aboriginal words from the Noongar language of Western Australia. In this text we are immersed in both story and Aboriginal culture. Among the Balga trees, Mother Yonga bent the long, thick grass to shelter her baby. The tension in the story builds beautifully and instils a great love for our Aboriginal culture and land. This story develops a wonderful appreciation for our First Nations people and their rich culture.
The book’s illustrations are bold and bright and captivating. Aunty Rhonda’s colours of pinks, golds, reds, oranges, browns and more draw the reader into the story. She uses Aboriginal storytelling in her illustrations that add multiple layers of meaning. The use of dot and line technique and white or black outlining are powerful. The front cover with its vivid purple and pink background with Kangaroo and Grandfather Emu with his blind eye make you want to dive inside this book. The patterning and dot work immediately let the reader know this is an Indigenous story. Each inside spread is filled with so much character and culture that Aunty Rhonda’s illustrative voice adds many layers of meaning to the text. I particularly loved the spread with The Great Spirit of the Dreaming with a starry night and the darker colours contrasting with the white. Aunty Rhonda’s work is stunning.
Jane –
Grandfather Emu is the first in the ‘Spirit of the Dreaming’ series, which takes Australian Aboriginal Dreaming stories from the past and creates new Dreaming stories that honour our First Nations people and their connections with the land and its animals. Grandfather Emu is the story of how marsupials got their pouches, but it’s also a story about the value of kindness and respect. This beautiful book has so much to offer: gorgeous illustrations in rich, vibrant colours; a sweet, simple tale with a powerful message that has meaning for Indigenous and non-Indigenous readers alike; and a smattering of words from the Noongar language, with a glossary and pronunciation guide at the end. It even includes sheet music and lyrics for a song written by the author and illustrator. An absolute gem of a book!