Three goannas - Zoro, Eliza and Zed - argue about who is the best, and who is the best at what. A flood threatens their home and they are forced to swim to survive. Once they are safely ashore, their friend Boo manages to find them some food. As they are now safe and well fed, they recommence arguing about who is the best but Boo settles the argument : No-one was the best. They were 'all brave and together they were a team.'
The background bush scenes are richly painted and decorated, with distinctly Western Australian plants. The movement of the swirling clouds and flood waters is portrayed in rich acrylics, and textas. The distinction between the monitor friends has been shown by Fielding’s texta and painted figures. The lizards in shades of yellow, orange and brown, are always easy to find in the landscape. To aid reading aloud, words have been emphasised by larger font and different coloured text, so that Kirra's voice comes through.
Kirra Somerville is descended from the Martu people of the Western Desert in Western Australia. She was born in Perth in 1995 and went to school there with her twin sister, Jarra. Kirra wrote 'The Lizard Gang' when she was nine-years-old and won a prize in the 2004 Children’s Book Council of Australia WA Branch's Make your own storybook competition. Grace Fielding was raised at the Wandering Mission near Perth. She is well-known for her painting and fabric printing that combines traditional dot art with contemporary images.
Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Resource
