Prepare for a rich language treat with action verbs and lush artwork featuring Australian plants, animals and landscapes. Underlying this seemingly simple book lays several clever literacy and artistic strategies. Young listeners will listen intently and gleefully repeat such words as ‘splosh’, ‘swirl’ and ‘whoosh’. How clever that these same words lead into the art activity at the story’s conclusion.
Eyes are drawn to the Aboriginal motifs which splash across each double page while different creatures in the environment appear such as marching ants and digging crabs. The bold colours grab the attention as readers and listeners peer closely while repeating the strong action lines, such as ‘Squish for the muddy ground where crabs dig their hidey-holes’. The final page leads into a finger painting activity featuring the turtle’s secret sunning place by the ‘messy, sticky, slippery-slidey, oozy-squidgy’ river bank. The final two pages include the story in both English and Yanyuwa language. Yanyuwa is spoken by Aboriginal families in Booroloola, Northern Territory.
The artwork is produced by the Balarinji Studio, an Aboriginal-owned strategy and design agency which states that is founded on ‘authentic engagement with Aboriginal people, culture, art, stories and identity’. This book is part of a collection of related books by Ros Moriarty in her Indi Kindi early learning and literacy program designed to promote early literacy.
Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Resource
