1. Aboriginal Australians
2. Children as artists
3. Children as authors
4. Children, Aboriginal Australian
5. Country
6. Education
7. Relationship to place
8. Storytelling

In 2007, 100 children attended ‘Coming Closer’ workshops with Indigenous storyteller Boori Monty Pryor. This slim book is filled with tips and ideas about writing and how to make a good story come alive. It is a reflection on the way Boori tells stories with added comments, drawings and prints by the children involved. Each double page has one of the eight steps to follow in the making of Indigenous stories. At the end of the book is a glossary of the Kungganji language used in the book. The colours used and the short comments as well as the eight writing steps make this a great launching pad for young writers wanting to write and illustrate their own or class stories.

Boori Monty Pryor was born in Townsville, Queensland. His father is from the Birrigubba People of the Bowen and Proserpine region, and his mother is from Yarrabaha and a descendant of the Kungganji People. A multi-talented performer, Boori was the inaugural Australian Children’s Laureate in 2012-2013 with Alison Lester.

1. Story Talks with Boori Monty Pryor - Family stories (Part 1) 9 Nov 2020 https://youtu.be/bZuKZ6NgC8w
2. Interview : Australian Children’s Laureates Boori Monty Pryor and Alison Lester, 15 Sept 2012 http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2012/09/interview-australian-childrens.html