Magabala Books
February 2025
Hachette Australia
I am always excited by First Nations books and I can’t think of a single one that hasn’t made me feel that way. But every now and then, one comes along that is really out of the box and this is one of those.
There are a lot of ‘firsts’ here. First in a new series from Magabala called First Peoples First Sciences [fun fact: over a decade ago, working in Canberra schools Year 4s were a PYP unit of inquiry on ‘technology’ i.e modern innovations. My library UoI focused on technology from ancient cultures including Aboriginal and ancient Egypt. It was a revelation to many and not just students!].
First Mbabaram creation story to be published. First book from long-time educator (including school principal) Vanessa Stevens who is a Mbarbaram, Yidinji and Taribalang Bunda woman, Traditional Owners of the Tableland Region, Cairns and Bundaberg areas of Queensland. [so yayyy! Qld author!]
Vanessa grew up listening to stories told by her Dad, Colin Alec Stevens (Alick Chalk). This was a man who had lived in Aboriginal camps from 1901-1916: Irvinebank (with a horrendous history), Bakerville (Atherton) and Watsonville in far north Queensland.
As a respected man in a traditional setting, Vanessa’s father was a custodian of stories and lore, so important to the Mbabaram culture, to be handed down. When he died in 1979, he was the last speaker of the Mbabaram language ,and the last to have lived in those camps. It was therefore important for his daughter to become the next to pass on the stories and learning to others.
This is the first Mbabaram creation story and the telling of it explains how Kangaroo and Emu were empowered to craft the first boomerang and to create the first sunrise, sunset as well as the (cardinal) navigational directions.
Interspersed with the narrative are annotated simple line diagrams that explain and clarify the various teaching/science points e.g. how a boomerang is made in order for it to return or knowing the day’s passage of time via the sun.
Paul Seden’s illustrations beautifully encapsulate the pride and joy of Kangaroo and Emu as they complete their given task. This will provide so much learning as well as lending itself easily to those units that explore traditional stories, including those of Creation and Dreaming, as well as multicultural examples. It’s just all-round fabulous really.
Given it has some excellent teaching notes as a springboard to a closer study, it would be a certain winner in a collection to be utilised for all its aspects. I am certainly looking forward to more in this stellar series. Without reservation it’s a 5❤️❤️ 💛🖤🖤 rating.
Just So Stories 
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