1. Animals
2. Art motifs
3. Babies
4. Beaches
5. Country
6. Families
7. Identity
8. Love
9. Nature
10. Stories in rhyme
11. Wirangu people (C1) 

‘Warna-Manda Baby: Earth Walk’ is an ode to the land, sea and sky as baby Allurru is introduced and guided in a journey across her Country to learn of her connection to the Earth and to learn her way home.

Allurru is encouraged to walk gently on this Earth, to look around and see the beauty of the world and know that the Earth is part of who she is. She is told to always look after and love her (the Earth) and the animals and in the Earth will provide all you need. She is told to learn her footprints home so she always knows her way back to Country to where her heart belongs.

The book’s artwork was created by First Nations artist Susan Betts from Streaky Bay in South Australia. The story has a special meaning for her as she wanted to share her connection to Country to inspire future generations. The artwork created using acrylic paint, printmaking techniques and digital programs. It shows a strong connection to the sea and coast of the artist’s Country through the motifs and the blues, greens and sand colours used. The inclusion of the ‘Waldya’(eagle) and ‘Galga’ (star) represent the ancestors who watch over and guide us. The book includes a list of Wirangu words and their meanings.

‘Warna-Manda Baby: Earth Walk’ was developed by Raising Literacy Australia who worked with Indigenous artist Susan Betts. She worked collaboratively with children’s author Katrina Germein and illustrator Mandy Foot in an intensive week-long workshop to refine her first stand-alone picture book.

Susan Betts is an Indigenous artist from the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. She has strong family connections to the Kokata, Wirangu and Mirning groups from the Far-Western Nullarbor Plains. She works as a contemporary artist and designer for the Aboriginal design company Balarinji and designed the iconic Nalanji Dreaming artwork for the Qantas 747 aircraft.

‘Warna Manda Baby: Earth Walk’ was shortlisted in the Wilderness Society’s Karajia Award for First Nations children’s books creators.

1. ReadPlus 23 Aug 2022. Fran Knight reviews ‘Warna-Manda Baby: Earth Walk’ by Susan Betts and Mandy Foot https://www.readplus.com.au/reviews/warna-manda-baby-earth-walk
2. Momo celebrating time to read 11 Apr 2022. Review of ‘Warna-Manda Baby: Earth Walk’ by Susan Betta and Mandy Foot https://momotimetoread.blogspot.com/2022/04/warna-manda-baby-earth-walk-by-susan.html
3. Raising Literacy Australia. Books for Babies - Learning Time ‘Warna-Manda Baby: Earth Walk’ https://raisingliteracy.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Warna-MundaBaby_BabyLT_Sept2021.pdf
4. Raising Literacy Australia. Activity Time – ‘Warna-Manda Baby: Earth Walk’ https://raisingliteracy.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/September_ActivityTime_Baby_Warnamunda_Baby.pdf
5. Mandy Foot website ‘Warna-Manda Baby: Earth Walk’ https://www.mandyfoot.com/-warnamandababy