1. Crows
2. Eagles
3. Hawks
4. Nyulnyul (Australian people)
5. Stories and motifs
6. West Kimberley area (WA SD51, SD52, SE51)

A parallel text in Nyul Nyul and English rhyming verse, pronunciation guide and vocabulary list, this is a Dreaming story of Ngarlen, Western Australia, where the Nyul Nyul People live.

Cockatoo tells the story of Crow, who once had white feathers and a beautiful singing voice, but stole Parrot, the Eagle’s wife. The angry husband takes revenge and Crow’s colour and voice are transformed. As in oral traditions of telling and drawing, the story of Crow warns people not to break laws and not to trespass onto sacred grounds. Combining traditional narrative styles for young readers, the rhythmic Nyul Nyul language and simple English rhyming verse are enhanced by richly coloured illustrations depicting the unfolding drama and the restoration of community harmony.

1. Pat (Mamanyjun) Torres – 19 February 2017 https://proof-it.com.au/patmamanyjuntorres
2. Osterhaus, Carolyn, Writing for Children: INTERVIEW WITH PAT TORRES, Kunapipi, 10(1), 1988. https://ro.uow.edu.au/kunapipi/vol10/iss1/22