The earliest picture books for children were created with the sole intent to instruct. Bronwyn Bancroft updates the tradition with a satisfying and appealing Indigenous twist. Her counting book (we go from one to fifteen) is populated with iconic Australian animals: brolgas dance, koalas doze, geckos climb and sugar gliders sail.
Drawing upon dot painting traditions Bancroft’s blasts of colour, detail and pattern are bounded by strong line work, and cohere to amplify a skillful visual design. She also fully exploits double-page spreads against sympathetic single-colour backgrounds. The result is a high impact gallery of creatures to see and count. Children and elders will find a rich and satisfying pleasure in the pages. The visual design also binds the animals to an Indigenous tradition of art and storytelling.
Bronwyn Bancroft is a proud Bundjalung woman and artist, and the author and/or illustrator of more than 40 books for young people.
Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Resource
