1. Animals
2. Bilingual books
3. Birds
4. Family relationships
5. Noongar / Nyungar / Nyungah people (WA41) (WA S150)
6. Teaching
7. Willy Wagtail

‘Ninni Yabini’ uses anthropomorphism to tell a cautionary tale of a baby swan called Yabini.

‘Ninni Yabini’ begins in late spring with the arrival of a baby swan called Yabini meaning little star. One day the nest is swept away by the river. The mother and father decide to rebuild the nest together. Yabini plays nearby and becomes fascinated with a willy wagtail which she follows until she becomes lost. As night falls, Yabini is guided by a star which leads her back to her parents. The story concludes with Yabini feeling the safety, security, and reconnection to her family.

The Wadjak Noongar people believe that the willy wagtail would lead children away from their families and they would be lost. The text is written in Noongar language with an English translation underneath. The Noongar language is written in bold font. At the back of the book, the six Noongar seasons are written with the English translations underneath.

The author, Cheryl Kickett-Tucker, belongs to three areas of the Noongar people, Wadjuk (Swan River), Balladong (Wheatbelt) and Yued (Moora). Illustrator Tyrown Waigana’s cultural background is Waradandi Noongar and Ait Koedhal (Torres Strait Islander).

1. Fremantle Press, 2022. Teaching notes: Ninni Yabini. (Link to teaching notes) https://1b124riq24c135lpm3nl6tz1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/TN_NinniYabini.pdf
2. Noongar Boodjar Language Cultural Aboriginal Corporation. History of the language, activities, and educational material https://noongarboodjar.com.au/?doing_wp_cron=1657280417.2915000915527343750000
3. Noongar Boodjar Language Cultural Aboriginal Corporation, 2022. Bird Activity Pack. (Educational pack on different animals found in Western Australia. Students learn bird names in Noongar language) http://noongarboodjar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Bird-Activity-pack.pdf
4. Tyrown Waigana, 2022. Crawlincrocodile. (Illustrator’s website) https://crawlincrocodile.com/
5. Inclusive Australia, 2021. Somebody Different: Cheryl from Swan View. (Insight into the author) https://www.inclusiveaustralia.com.au/news/somebody-different-cheryl-from-swan-view
6. Gittins, K, 2022. The Book Tree book review of ‘Ninni Yabini’ https://www.thebooktree.co/book-reviews/ninni-yabini-by-professor-cheryl-kickett-tucker-ill-by-tyrown-waigana
7. Crawlin Crocodile, Tyrown Waigana, artist’s website https://crawlincrocodile.com/about/
8. Curtin University, Staff Profile of Professor Cheryl Kickett-Tucker https://staffportal.curtin.edu.au/staff/profile/view/cheryl-kickett-tucker-61ab4ed8/