Just So Stories

Walker Books Australia

August 2024

ISBN13:9781760658069

Australia RRP:$25.99

New Zealand RRP:$27.99

I absolutely love this 💚 and, though it’s not due for release for another couple of weeks, it is perfect to share during this week of NAIDOC specials. Natashia Curtin grew up in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, in a Yolngu community called Ramingining.

As the daughter of parents who taught their two girls to respect the people with whom they lived, she and her sister were just part of the community and even given their own skin names. Her father was a linguist and grammar specialist, and her mother taught in mother-tongue literacy, and Natashia and her sister were often the only white children in their township. They played and learned alongside the Yolngu children and learned some language – each group from the other – mostly basic vocabulary and swear words (like kids everywhere!) and as she grew up, Natashia realised how truly special her cross-cultural childhood was. Not surprisingly, this is written in dual language – English and Gupapuynu. Natashia comments that at any one time there might have been nine different languages spoken in the town.

There is a commonality in childhood everywhere and we see it time and time again in photos and anecdotes from around the world. And it has been my experience that children are in fact ‘colour’ blind. They see no difference in skin colour or race, but accept other children easily and without prejudice.

As the mum in this story relates her younger adventures and activities to her own offspring, it is easy to see this duality or twinned experience, and honestly makes one wonder why it’s so hard for adults who will not accept a concept of equity and equality, in spite of cultural differences.

Each spread shows the correlation between the city kids and the kids in the remote community, and your readers will very easily make connections here. It is both beautifully designed and presented with text and illustrations just perfectly matched to express the joy that all children have in playtime – wherever and whoever they are.

Make no mistake, this is a must-have for your collection so get it on your orders list now! A huge 5 ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ from me for this wonderful peek into childhood in a different setting. EDIT: 04/09 Indigenous Literacy Day – check out this reading in language, thanks Walker Books!