‘The Boab’ is a story about friendship, family, love and loss told through the eyes of a boab tree. Helen Milroy cleverly uses the boab as a metaphorical representation of the Stolen Generation and other children that are displaced from their families and homes and how they were able to survive in their new environments, but never really belonging. It is not until they are able to return to their country and family do they really flourish and are able to grow into who they are truly meant to be. The story is beautifully told and does not lay blame to anyone or thing for the boab’s displacement, making this book a sensitive way to introduce and discuss the topic of the Stolen Generations and about other displaced children in the world due to war and other issues outside of their control.
The Boab begins his journey purely by accident falling as a seed from the parent tree and landing on the back of an eagle. He finds himself lost and alone in a faraway place, with the trees around him ignoring his cries for help. The next day some hopping mice come across the boab, they fortunately understand him. The mice become his friends and together they work together to solve problems and support each other until they can help the boab make his way back home to his country and family.
Milroy continues to use her signature bold colours and patterns to illustrate this book. The paintings depict and add meaning to what is happening in the story.
Helen Milroy is a descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. She is currently a professor at the University of Western Australia, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Board Member with Beyond blue and the AFL’s first Indigenous Commissioner.
Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Resource
