Wurrtoo the Wombat is in love and spends his days planning and working to achieve the perfect setting for romance. He has gradually withdrawn from his neighbours in Bushland Avenue but his actions in putting out a fire bring him unexpected friendship with a koala called Kuula. Kuula’s quest to find her Auntie Swan aligns with Wurrtoo’s dream of travelling to the Forest of Dreaming. This will take them both on an unforgettable adventure - if Kuula ever stops laughing at him for his dream of marrying the Sky.
Author Tylissa Elisara identifies as Nunga, a term used by Aboriginal people in and around South Australia. As a child, she read Enid Blyton’s, ‘The Enchanted Wood’, and its influence on this story is unmistakeable. The blending of Indigenous storytelling with fantastical elements is carefully constructed to appeal to young readers, and Tylissa’s comments as a narrator are a continual reassurance during the scariest parts of the adventures. Dylan Finney’s drawings scaffold the text – snakes wearing aprons and the fabulous Yamuti have sprung to life under his pen. Short chapters with tiny vignettes of the action as decorations in the margins will appeal to readers who are still consolidating their skills.
The whole production presents as a sturdy and substantial hardback. A bright shiny Wurrtoo, in stylish spotty shorts and Akubra, strides confidently away from the reader on the cover.
Author’s Note: ‘My own knowledge of Country and culture is not perfect, and I do not present myself as an expert.’ Acknowledgments include details of consultation with Adnyamathanha, Narungga and Kaurna language experts. There is a brief glossary.
Tylissa Elisara is a children’s social worker who lives and works in Meanjin (Brisbane) with her husband and children. She descends from the Narungga, Kaurna and Adnyamathanha people of South Australia and was born and raised on Mamu Country in Innisfail, Queensland. She also has Irish ancestry. Dylan Finney is an Australian-born graphic designer and artist. He is a proud descendant of the Yanula and Mara clans, and also has English and Irish heritage.
Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Resource
