Stories for Simon’ introduces the topics Stolen Generations and reconciliation to young children. The story promotes discussion of respect for culture, social issues, and reconciliation.
Simon’s uncle sends him a boomerang wrapped in an old newspaper. He takes these to school where the teacher notes and discusses the newspaper article featuring Australia’s Prime Minister saying sorry to the Stolen Generations. That night Simon has a dream that the ‘sorry’ word turns into a cloud that rains big, hard stones. Each stone is labelled ‘sorry.’ Upon awakening in the morning, he finds his room filled with these stones. He loads them into a wagon and takes them down to the sea, intending to leave the stones there. But he meets an Aboriginal boy who suggests they talk to his Aunty about what the stones might mean.
Aunty suggests the sorry stones be exchanged for stories she will share. These are stories of people, animals, land, sea, sky and rain. The final story Aunty Betty tells is her own. She was part of the Stolen Generations. Her personal story enables Simon to understand why the word ‘sorry’ is important for healing the past. That night Simon dreams that Aunty Betty threw the wagon full of stones into the night where they turned into stars and filled the sky. The significance of this transformation remains open for discussion by young readers. This is a story of friendship, cultures, reconciliation, and hope for the future. The deeper layers of the simple narrative promote a discussion of the past.
The illustrations are stylised including shapes from the landscape that offer multiple interpretations. The symbolism of stones and stars adds a mystical quality, reminiscent of traditional Indigenous stories. The two non-Indigenous creators of this story were mentored by Bidjigal Indigenous Elder Vic Simms. The book was endorsed by Adam Goodes. ‘Stories for Simon’ is Lisa Miranda Sarzin’s first children's book. Lauren Briggs is a graphic designer specialising in etching and printmaking. She used etchings and drawings for ‘Stories for Simon’ as she felt the different textures and lines brought emotion into the images. There is a sense of whimsy embodied in the naive style chosen to capture a child’s imagination.
Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Resource
