Giinagay Gaagal, Hello Ocean by Melissa Greenwood

A beautifully illustrated picture book will open readers to the scope of Aboriginal art and design as Greenwood talks about her childhood and what the ocean means to her. Stunning detailed art can be seen on every page as the eye is drawn to the colour, mood and understandings offered.

I loved the swirling images, full of life, showing facets of the children’s days, on the beach. They swim and dance, catch fish, and play games, then watch the whales go by, mothers singing to their offspring.

Before they start they tell the land of their presence, promising to care for her while they are there. They run through the grass collecting bush fruit to go with the pipis.

They collect small sticks and seaweed for their Aunt to make a fire. She cooks a pipie stew for the tired group of children.

This lovely book is an ode to happy days spent by the ocean, from Gumbaynggirr artist Melissa Greenwood, the creator of the outstanding picture books Miimi Marraal, Mother Earth and My Little Barlaagany. Each of these books showcases her work, the beauty and colour of the environment, the breadth of how she is in tune with the land where she was born.

More about Melissa can be found here.

Each page is redolent of the relationship between the family and their environment, the text outlining how they are interacting with the land, the stunning images giving a superb picture of where they are and what they are seeing. Lots of styles can be seen in the images: dot painting, large sweeps of colour, lines and circles, all having meaning to the children as they play.

This book, along with the others in the series, has a great deal of extra information about Melissa, and the text of the book is given in both English andGumbaynggirr, adding another level of interest to the reader.

Young readers will love looking at the detail on each page and saying the words for themselves.

Themes: Aboriginal themes, Gumbaynggirr language, Ocean.

Fran Knight