Aunty Patsy Cameron (text) and Lisa Kennedy (illustrator), Sky Country, Magabala Books, August 2024, 36 pp., RRP $27.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781922777218
Aunty Patsy Cameron re-tells an ancient origin story from the traditions of Tasmanian First Peoples. The strongly textured and brilliantly coloured brushwork of the illustrations dramatise this story as a tale told to contemporary children who receive it into their hearts. The landscapes are distinctly Tasmanian, with many examples of island flora and fauna.
The story is of a people born of the stars, in particular the Milky Way, or more properly the Dark Emu. Even if science in one respect tells us that the people of this island first travelled in kinship groups across the vast Bassian Plain, another science, namely Physics, tells us that we are all in essence made from the stuff of stars. This story holds the truth that the world of these people came together painstakingly over time, and that the creatures, the plants, the seasons all harmonised and adapted to make a system that is self-sustaining.
It is a story, like many genesis stories, of a gift that must be held with respect and returned with love. This sturdy book’s story will stand alongside other beliefs and other cultures, enriching children’s understanding of how deep time goes, how many cultures there are, and how blessed we are in Australia to have these stories present in our heritage.
At the end of the book there is a fun activity for children, encouraging them to go back over the thoughtful illustrations. Recommended for children five to ten years old, and easily beyond.
Reviewed by Kevin Brophy
