Earthspeak by Sean McCann. Illus. by Jade Goodwin

Littered with Nyoongar words, shown in a glossary at the start, this lovely book follows a family as they walk through the area that is part of their ancestry. After a long drive they arrive at their destination, donning hats and backpacks. Papa tells them to look, listen and feel their surroundings. They walk alongside the creek, watching the black cockatoos, listening to the leaves and grass, feeling the weight of the backpack. This special place, Papa tells them, was shaped by wind, water and fire.

But the wind picks up, and lightning begins to fill the sky. The group finds a cave to shelter in, waiting for the storm to pass by. They walk on, eventually arriving at the waterhole, where they settle down for a picnic. But one of the children notices smoke in the distance. Papa tells them not to be concerned as it was probably started by a lightning strike and will do some good for the environment. It burns off old wood and debris and encourages new growth, he tells them.  Papa and the children let some of the earth run through their hands, feeling the closeness to Mother Earth, a special day they will always remember.

Boodjar Wangkiny’s words speak to the heart of the country, a country at the heart of all of its people, a country that needs understanding and reverence, protection and sharing. The family that visits the waterhole and waterfalls know that they have visited a special place. They listen and see, feel and listen to the heart beat. Sean McCann’s words are wonderfully reflected by the illustrations by Jade Goodwin.

A journey of learning as the children walk through an area their Papa knows well, the environment is opened to them as well as the reading audience and Papa shows them how to experience what they are seeing.

At the end of the book is information about Sean and Jade which tells the readers of their backgrounds and what impelled them to write and illustrate this book.

Themes: Aboriginal themes, Environment, Family.

Fran Knight