★ 06/29/2020
Woiwurrung is a language spoken by the Wurundjeri people of Australia’s Yarra River valley, around present-day Melbourne. Wurundjeri elder Murphy and Yarra riverkeeper Kelly offer readers a door into the Woiwurrung language, which, the back matter tells readers, “does not translate directly into English.” The authors work mostly with nouns, and readers work out meanings using context, the illustrations, and the glossary: “Where Birrarung begins to run through farmland,/ marram, resting on soft forepaws,/ neatly clips buath.” (Birrarung is the Yarra River; Marram is a gray kangaroo; buath is grass.) In Tasmanian Trawlwoolway Kennedy’s handsome acrylic paintings, the river flows slowly, and the marsupials and birds that live beside it are shown feeding and burrowing, swimming and flying. The animals are painted naturalistically, framed by tapestries of texture and pattern that contain aboriginal elements. As the river approaches the city, buildings appear, but always in the background. It’s a lovely, immersive introduction to a language, and a closely observed view of the Australian natural world. Ages 6–9. (Aug.)
This text perfectly captures the intersection of culture and science, making this an excellent text for an elementary-level unit on animal habitats, artistic portrayals, and cultural depictions of ecology. Wilam, home, takes many forms for a plethora of animals in this striking Aboriginal story.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
The animals are painted naturalistically, framed by tapestries of texture and pattern that contain aboriginal elements. As the river approaches the city, buildings appear, but always in the background. It’s a lovely, immersive introduction to a language, and a closely observed view of the Australian natural world.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Kids who would normally snooze through a travelogue will find this inviting, and those already interested in ecosystems may be encouraged to similarly document their own. It’s also a book that offers many possible approaches...However you use it, it’s a dazzling literary journey. (See p. 489 for publication information.)
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)
A necessary purchase, and co-written by a senior Aboriginal elder and the Yarra riverkeeper, this is one small step toward depicting a culture that is likely underrepresented in most collections.
—School Library Journal
“Me no leave it, / Yarra, my country. / There’s no mountains / for me on the Murray.” This 1874 quote from William Barak, Wurundjeri Ngurungaeta (who was a leader of the Aboriginal Australian nation of the Woiwurrung language group), opens this dynamic celebration of Australia’s Yarra River Valley...A distinct and introspective reflection on time, place, creatures, and people.
—The Horn Book
07/01/2020
PreS-Gr 2—In a look at the language of the Indigenous people of Australia, "Birrarung" is the Woiwurrung word for the Yarra River, which is near the city of Melbourne, and "Wilam" is the Woiwurrung word for "home." Throughout the text, Woiwurrung words are used for animals and other elements of the natural world: possum, kangaroo, crow, wombat, rain, and sun. As the river rambles, the story does too. Along the way, it shows how each animal is key to the river ecosystem—and how the river is critical to their survival. Individual compositions lack a sense of cohesion, but the color palette of the illustrations progresses nicely from nighttime to sunrise to sunset. Some spreads use a pleasing combination of patterns to show the harmonious flow of water, land, and air. VERDICT A necessary purchase, and co-written by a senior Aboriginal elder and the Yarra riverkeeper, this is one small step toward depicting a culture that is likely underrepresented in most collections.—Chance Lee Joyner, Haverhill P.L., MA
★ 2020-05-18
A gentle, descriptive portrait of a lush and well-loved land.
Created by Joy Murphy Wandin Ao, Senior Aboriginal Elder of the Wurundjeri people of the Melbourne area, in collaboration with Kelly and Kennedy, also of the area, this #ownvoices picture book is one of a kind. Beginning with carefully painted endpapers that feature patterned stones and platypuses at the front and fish in waves at the back, the story follows the Birrarung (Yarra River) as it weaves its way from creeks to rivers, verdant bush undergrowth to valley pines beneath a pale blue sky, farmland to city. Animals identified with their Woiwurrung names are described in their various habitats: warin (wombat), marram (gray kangaroo), wallert (possum), waa (raven), and many others. Each layered spread features life of all forms—human, flora, and fauna—portrayed in a dynamic, vivid style. Intricate dot- and line-based art punctuates the lush illustrations drenched in vibrant greens, earthy browns, and watery blues, immersing readers in Aboriginal art. Extensive backmatter features a spread-by-spread glossary of Woiwurrung words used in the book accompanied by a reminder that “The Woiwurrung language does not translate directly into English.” This text perfectly captures the intersection of culture and science, making this an excellent text for an elementary-level unit on animal habitats, artistic portrayals, and cultural depictions of ecology.
Wilam, home, takes many forms for a plethora of animals in this striking Aboriginal story. (glossary) (Picture book. 4-8)
