Sky country by Aunty Patsy Cameron. Illus. by Lisa Kennedy

Walking with their Grandmother, the children are introduced to their Ancestral Beings. First they must walk to the mountains, a long and cold trek. Grandmother paints their faces with red ochre, and begins to tell the story of two stars, brothers in the Milky Way. Together they built the mountains, and the rivers using their stone tools. They made the fishes, the insects and the moss and the land began to bloom. Now they made the plants and the trees, the birds and animals, spreading their seeds and digging the earth. They followed the seasons always adapting to the new climate. The first people were made from the earth, and they sang and danced, remembering the stories of the Ancestral Beings and of Country. The Ancestral Beings rubbed sticks together to make fire, giving warmth and safety to the people. Stories such as these are passed on from father to son, mother to daughter, so the younger generation know where they have come and about Country, ready to pass it on to those who come after them.

The children walk back to the coast, carrying the story of their Ancestral Beings in their hearts. The words flow easily from one page to the next, encouraging children to see the Sky Country for themselves, emboldening them to look closely at what is before them. Two pages follow with information about the author and illustrator.

The lovely text is supported by glorious images of the stars, the Sky Country and the Sea, encouraging children to look closely at each page for what is shown. A guide to what can be found on each page is given at the end. I love Lisa Kennedy’s images of the trees, standing tall on many pages, while the Ancestral Beings and her vision of the night sky are spectacular.

Themes: Aboriginal themes, Milky Way, Ancestral Beings, Creation.

Fran Knight