This book for young readers was produced during workshops conducted by Black Ink Press personnel with students, including Graeme Owens, at Heatley Secondary College in Townsville. Black Ink Press publish and nurture emerging Indigenous authors and illustrators.
Owens’ simple narrative is about his yumby (dog) going missing. ‘One time, my friend and I were playing on the hill. A noise came from the bush and my yumby ran off.’ The illustrations are child-like depictions of the two stick-figure protagonists, the playful yumby, and the landscape, in bold and simple lines, and rich colours. This is a charming snapshot of an incident which might mean so much to any child. This book might also prompt children to write their own narratives about the everyday occurrences which make up any day in one’s life, but which are so memorable as formative narratives and memories.
The book was exhibited as part of the ‘Jarjum Stories' a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s books (19 Oct 2019 – 10 May 2020) at the State Library of Queensland.
Series: Little Black Books
Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Resource
