1. Aboriginal Tasmanians
2. Ancestors
3. Animals
4. Art techniques
5. Astronomy
6. Country
7. Creation
8. Culture
9. Endpapers
10. Grandmothers
11. Nature
12. Oral storytelling
13. Palawa / Tasmanian people (Tas) (T16)
14. Relationship to place
15. Sky
16. Stars
17. Tasmania
18. Teaching
19. Visual literacy

‘Sky Country’ is a story told by the first Peoples of Trouwerner (Tasmania). They travelled in many kinship groups, held diverse traditional practices and had up to 13 language groups. Before the story begins there is an introduction entitled, ‘Two Ways of Knowing.’ It briefly explains views held by Western science about the Trouwerner People.

‘Sky Country’ begins with Grandmother telling children the story of their Ancestral Beings. The story tells of two stars in the Milky Way, Pineterrinner and Pumpermehowlle, who were brothers. They walked together down the Milky Way to Trouwerner (Tasmania).

Then on Tasmania these brothers made islands, mountains and riverways, then fishes, insects and mosses. The land came alive with plants, trees, animals and birds. Seasons changed and creatures adapted to the changing climate. Darkly coloured, highly detailed illustrations are luscious and captivating. The artwork extends to the page borders and across double pages. These are filled with many plants and animals viewed across a dense countryside. Then the Ancestral Beings made the First People. They became the Country’s custodians. This then is the story of Peoples coming into being and their connection to the Sky Country.

Grandmother reminds listeners that these stories of Ancestral Beings are passed on, so People know their origin. The story then remains permanently in hearts and minds. The dark purple endpapers set the mood of contemplation and encourage viewers to look closely and think deeply when opening and closing the book.

This then is the story of Peoples coming into being and their connection to the Sky Country. Western scientific knowledge and traditional cultural history present ‘two ways of knowing’ about Country. The end of the book features an activity, ‘Did you spot these creatures?’ Included are 11 images of creatures appearing in the book. These encourage children to review the artwork, learn more about the native animals of Trouwerner and engage more deeply with the book.

Patsy Cameron grew up on Flinders Island. She traces her Aboriginal heritage to four Ancestral grandmothers. She received an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished services to Indigenous communities in Tasmania. Lisa Kennedy is a descendant of the Pairrebeenne/Trawlwoolway Clans. She traces her Aboriginal heritage through her father’s line to her Ancestral grandmother Woretermoeteryenner, eldest daughter of Mannalargenna.

1. Magabala Books ‘Sky Country' reading of the story and language pronunciation by Zac Cameron https://magabala.com.au/pages/sky-country-language-pronunciation
2. Magabala Books Teaching notes by Christine Wheeler for ‘Sky Country’ by Aunty Patsy Cameron & Lisa Kennedy https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0092/5043/9268/files/Sky_Country_-_Teacher_s_Notes.pdf?v=1745288559
3. Reading Time 18 Sept 2024 review by Kevin Brophy of ‘Sky Country' https://readingtime.com.au/sky-country/
4. Fuller’s Bookshop Launch on 23 Aug 2024 in Hobart, Tasmania. The Honourable Barbara Baker AC, Governor of Tasmania provides her launch speech of ‘Sky Country’ by Aunty Patsy Cameron & Lisa Kennedy https://www.govhouse.tas.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2024-08/Cameron%2C%20Aunty%20Patsy%2C%20and%20Kennedy%2C%20Lisa%2C%20-%20%27Sky%20Country%27%20book%20launch_0.pdf
5. Magabala Books publisher profile of Lisa Kennedy, artist https://magabala.com.au/collections/lisa-kennedy
6. Readings 2 Dec 2024 Angela Crocombe’s choice of ‘Best Picture Books of 2024’ https://www.readings.com.au/news/best-picture-books-of-2024