CHILDREN of GUNUNA with Alison Lester & Elizabeth Honey Our Island Viking, 2014 unpaged $24.99 ISBN 9780670077687 SCIS 1660887
This beautiful book about a sense of place came to be after a 2006 visit by Alison Lester and Elizabeth Honey to Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria. With a group of students, they have made a truly seamless collaboration that delights in human-less seascape life.
Animals and creatures awake as the day progresses and sparse but poignant text leaves suitably wide landscapes for the children’s illustrations. A clever use of wax-resist and food dye wash brings the most out of their naïve and sometimes abstract drawings. Sharks are barely visible lurking in the turquoise depths and on another page the sea is positively cheerful amid the turtles’ splashes. Wallabies are also hard to see under the midday shade, observantly evocative of the tropical sun. Light and tone bring a sense of dynamism to each spread that will have every teacher and parent reaching for the art materials.
Our Island is a true celebration of native Australian life, trembling with power and subtly. A glossary at the back of the book explains some of the Lardil language terms. Royalties and a percentage of sales are being donated to fund art projects in the community. Suitable for ages 5+.
reviewed by Liz Anelli
