The Frog's First Song by Jazz Money illustrated by Jason Phu

First, the world is all dark. A little bit muddled and confused.

The only sound dripping water and small bubbles gurgling.

In that darkness and quiet, everyone is alone.

This is the world in the well.

This book opens with black pages. We can see a solitary frog sitting at the bottom of a well. He makes a little croak and then discovers he can sing. I am thinking the acoustics in the well would be fabulous. His song is heard by others. It is the first song and now it swells into a chorus of voices. 

"Their song is friendship and family, and with it the frogs feel brave."

Singing together makes the frogs feel so brave that they are able to venture out into the world where they are greeted by the night sky and the moon - "a perfect circle moon". (A great opportunity to talk to a young library group about the significance of the full moon and also the phases of the moon).

Do you love the sound of frogs - especially at night? I do. I sometimes hear them near my house. This book explores a reason why frogs love to sing in the night. You can hear 15 Australian frogs here - this is well worth a listen. 

Here is another text quote:

"That even in dark times, when we come together with song or dance or story, suddenly the world is brighter and no one needs to be alone."

You can see Jazz Money a Wiradjuri poet and her friend artist Jason Phu talking about their book here. This is their debut picture book. And here are some teachers notes from the publisher and a set from Lamont.

Read more about Jason Phu here. He has been a finalist in the Sulman Prize (2023, 2022, 2019, 2018), The Archibald Prize (2023, 2015, 2014), The Wynne Prize (2023), the Ramsay Art Prize and Australia’s premier prize for emerging artists (2017), the NSW Emerging Visual Arts Fellowship (2017), and the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship (2016). He is clearly a very successful artist.

Jazz Money talks about her story:

A few years ago, Jason asked me to write about an artwork he was making, which was all about singing frogs. We spoke about ancestral frog stories, and at that time I was really obsessed with choirs and the joyful act of singing in groups – I still am obsessed with how special it is to sing with other people! Instead of writing an art essay I decided to write a short story about singing frogs. I wrote the first draft of the story very quickly. I was having so much fun writing. After finishing the story, I thought it would make a good children’s book and asked Jason if he would like to illustrate. In the story the frogs find one another first through song, then by dancing, hopping and moving out of the well into the light of the moon. I think being a part of communities is so important to help us feel safe, nurtured, joyous and supported and I am glad that the frogs reminded me of the power of gathering together.

Thank you to University of Queensland Press for sending me a review copy of The Frog's First Song. On Saturday 12th July you can meet the creators of this book at our city bookstore Kinokinuya and also on 5th July at Gleebooks Kids. 

The supplied notes say this book was inspired by a Chinese parable 'The frog in the well' and First Nations Creation stories. I would like to find a list of First Nations Stories featuring frogs - I can only think of the famous one about Tiddalick but I am sure there are others. If I was sharing The Frog's Song with a group of students I think I would read the text without the illustrations as a first experience and then allow some time for the group to talk about the art used in this book. 

I found this information about the Chinese proverb:

The idiom the frog at the bottom of the well (or “look at the sky from the bottom of a well) is from “Zhuang Zi”, a famous Taoism Book. It means to have a narrow view of the world, to have only superficial knowledge of something, or to be short-sighted.

My friend from Kinderbookswitheverything remembered The Peasant Prince - the story of the dancer Li Cunxin - also referred to this Chinese story:

"The story of Li Cunxin’s remarkable life has already reached thousands of readers throughout the world, a story that was first published in 2003 as Mao’s Last Dancer.  But it has always been a story about childhood, and now, with the publication of this picture book version, Li’s story will be enjoyed by very young children as well. Our picture book story begins with Li and his beloved father flying a kite together on the bleak, wind-swept fields around Li’s childhood village.  It is here that Li’s father tells him an old Chinese fable - a  story about a frog who was determined to escape from a deep, dark well. This story of the little frog’s determination touched Li so much that it became a constant reminder to him of his own life and of how, if he was just as determined, he might be able to escape from his life of poverty". Scholastic.  Read more on the NCACL (National Centre for Australian Children's Literature) Picture Books for Older Readers database. You can see a video of The Peasant Prince here.

Here are a couple of other splendid Chinese stories, I have previously discussed, by the Hans Christian Andersen award winner Cao Wenxuan (I am keen to see his new book Flying High):

Lemon Butterfly

The Wooden Fish

Smoke

With older students you could compare The First Frog's song with this famous story from Iran:

The Little Black Fish

Yanga Mother by Cheryl Leavy artwork by Christopher Bassi

 

It is so important to share the issues surrounding The Stolen Generation with our students. This book explores this topic using the relationship between a mother kangaroo and her joey. The way this is presented I imagine the author had very young children in mind who might simply see this as a dual language story filled with kangaroos while with older students' it is essential to share the end notes. Here are some quotes:

"Yanga Mother honours the strength and dignity of the women of Western Queensland, mardi matriarchs, and all First Nations mothers. Well into the 1970s thousands of Aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their families by Australian governments. With as many as one in three of our children stolen."

This story is based on a story told by the author's grandmother - Beryl Wharton. Her mother told Beryl to look up at the clouds to know her mother was watching over her.

"Yanga Mother honours dhugandu, the grey kangaroo, as family, because like mardi peoples, they also like to stay connected in social groups called mobs."

"We can all learn something from dhugandu about family, responsibility and safety. They teach us that our connections to each other are sacred."

"The reference to the sun, sky and clouds calls us to remember Country and our sacred obligation to love and protect it, just as it has nurtured us into our very existence. Respecting Country includes respecting its people."

With young children, you might need to talk about the final pages where the mother kangaroo is depicted as a spirit or a cloud - has she died, or have they been separated?

I was sent this book by UQP (University of Queensland Press) and it came wrapped in the same paper as the end papers - it is always exciting to unwrap a parcel. I am curious about the bright white flowers with golden yellow centres on the end papers - are they desert flowers found in Queensland?  They do not appear in the book but on the final page there is a flower bud which I think must be from this same plant.  I asked the publisher about the flowers and she said: it is a native flower and represents Country. The yellow is significant as it recalls Chris Bassi’s artistic practice.

This book will be published 2nd July, 2024. I do like the way the text is expressed in very short phrases. The English and Kooma texts are presented on every page with Kooma in bold print. When you share this book with students spend some time looking at the way the title is present with Yanga in slightly larger font. Yanga means mother. Also take some time to talk about the range of emotions you can see in the eyes of the young kangaroo. Some of the illustrations are repeated with just a change to the background colour to show the passing of time. 

You can see more pages here. Here is a wonderful audio glossary so you can hear the words from this text spoken too. The teachers notes are coming soon. 

Bookseller blurb: Yanga Mother is a timely and poetic celebration of First Nations languages. This powerful bilingual story honours connection to Country and the unbreakable bonds of never-ending motherly love. Wandaguli Yanga. There is always Mother. From award-winning writer Cheryl Leavy comes this beautiful picture book in Kooma and English about a grey kangaroo and her joey, and the unbreakable bonds of family. With artwork from renowned Meriam and Yupungathi artist Christopher Bassi, this gentle yet powerful story honours the Stolen Generations, First Nations matriarchs, and never-ending motherly love.

Cheryl Leavy is from the Kooma and Nguri Nations in western and central Queensland. She is an award-winning poet and writer who loves to tell stories that celebrate First Nations culture, history and Country. Yanga Mother is her first picture book and her second, For You Country, will be published in 2025. Read more about the artist Christopher Bassi here. Christopher Bassi is an artist of Meriam, Yupungathi and British descent. Working with archetypal models of representational painting, his work engages with the medium as sociological and historical text and as a means to address issues surrounding cultural identity, alternative genealogies, and colonial legacies in Australia and the South Pacific. I am going to assume this is his first picture book. 

This large format book could be a good addition to your library when you share these companion texts:

Wild Berries by Julie Flett

 

Bookseller blurb: Spend the day picking wild blueberries with Clarence and his grandmother. Meet ant, spider, and fox in a beautiful woodland landscape, the ancestral home of author and illustrator Julie Flett. This book is written in both English and Cree, in particular the n-dialect, also known as Swampy Cree from the Cumberland House area. 

Wild Berries was published in 2013 but I see a new edition will be released this year [9781772291049]. With a group of older students in Australia you could introduce the topic of other indigenous peoples such as the Cree of Canada. This book would also be brilliant to use with in an art class in High School. 

Read this interview with Julie Flett about her work and you can see inside Wild Berries. 

Except for a passing fox and the occasional bird, animals are depicted as silhouettes, which adds to the episode’s overall visual simplicity. ... A sweet commemoration of a shared experience, presented with care and infused with intimacy. Kirkus Star review

Here are some other books to explore by Canadian illustrator Julie Flett - you should consider adding at least one of her books to your library collection. I mentioned Julie Flett in this previous post. 

Three Dresses by Wanda Gibson

I was so proud of my three dresses. I took care of them so I'd always have 

one to wash, one to wear and one spare. 

This is a book that should be shared with children all over Australia (and beyond). For many children this story will be so thought provoking. Imagine if your Christmas present was a new dress - I am sure most little girls would be excited. And what if you were given three dresses - now that is sure to make you extra happy. But what if the three dresses were not new? These are second-hand dresses given to you by the Lutheran church. Have your emotions just been through a roller coaster? Now think about how you feel if these are your only dresses - your best dresses - your special dresses. 

"You should have seen the joy on our faces when we put on those second-hand dresses. We were so happy."

Wanda and her family live at Hope Vale Mission. This is her story. She was born in 1946. 

"When I was a kid, I went to school and had to work on the farm. After school, I did domestic duties for the Mission staff."

Now let's continue the story. The next thing to think about as you read this book is holidays. How long do your family have for a holiday? Where do you go and how do you get there? What do you do on your holiday?  Wanda and her family have just two weeks each year. Wanda packs her three dresses, one to wear, one to wash and one spare. 

"We didn't have bags, so we'd lay our dresses on the ground and roll them up like a little swag to carry on our backs. Mum and Dad would take tools, blankets, and mayie to eat. We all had to carry so much."

Compare this with your class discussion. The family will walk to their holiday destination, they have no suitcases and on the next page we read the journey takes two days. 

So now think about where they might be going? What will they do there? Where will they stay and what will they eat?

The group arrive at the beach. They set up a camp and catch fish, gather bush tucker and tell stories. Of course, eventually the holiday ends but the little girls in the family still have their precious dresses. And for Wanda, recalling her childhood, this is a very special memory. 

Blurb UQP: When Wanda Gibson was a little girl, her mum would tell her this as they packed to go on holidays. Wanda grew up on Hope Vale Mission in Far North Queensland, and her family were allowed only one short break away from work each year. At their special spot at the beach, they camped in the sandhills, cooked fresh fish on the fire and swam in the ocean. Beautifully illustrated with Wanda’s paintings, this heart-warming true story celebrates family time, connection to place and finding joy in the simple things, like your favourite three dresses.

Thank you to UQP for sending the advance copy of Three Dresses which will be published on 30th April, 2024. Make sure you add this to your library collection - Primary and High School. Here are the teachers notes. And take a look at this excellent review from The Bottom Shelf. 

Wanda Gibson is a Nukgal Wurra woman of the Guugu Yimithirr people (on her mum’s side) and lives in Hope Vale on the Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. Her dad is a Yuuethawarra man and his country is around Cape Melville. Both of Wanda’s parents were Stolen Generation and were brought to Cape Bedford Mission when they were ten or twelve. Wanda is a master weaver – she weaves baskets, birds and fish from dried grass. She is also a painter and completed a Diploma of Visual Arts at Cairns TAFE in 2014. Wanda has five kids, eleven grandkids and five great-grandkids.

Companion books:

The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2024

Literature opens the door to new worlds and has the ability to increase understanding and exchange between cultures and people.

2024 Winner is from Australia

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) encourages reading and promote literacy by securing access to good literature for First Nations children of Australia. The organisation works in 427 First Nations Communities all over the Australian continent. 

ILF emphasizes the importance of First Nations children finding themselves, their culture and their languages reflected in the books they read. With trust and respect for each Community and its unique conditions, traditions and wishes, and in cooperation with Community residents, ILF promotes reading for pleasure, education, the creation of new stories and the preservation of language. ILF’s innovative, creative work is an inspiration – not only for reading promotion among First Nations peoples, but also for work with children in other social groups whose stories, languages and experiences are not recognized by the majority society.

ALMA Jury comments: "With curiosity and respect, Indigenous Literacy Foundation works with reading and storytelling among First Nations children in Australia. In close collaboration with Communities, they highlight the value of all people’s own languages and stories. By spreading books and stimulating reading, storytelling and creativity, Indigenous Literacy Foundation builds the desire to read and fosters pride, self-confidence and a sense of belonging. Every child has the right to their language and their stories."

The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award is awarded to those who continue to work in her spirit: with imagination, bravery, respect and empathy, and maintaining the highest level of artistic excellence. The attention of the award leads to more translations and to more children having access to high-quality literature—entertaining, innovative, challenging, or complex.

The prize amount of SEK 5,000,000 ($513,000) is a signal to the world that Sweden takes children’s reading very seriously. Reading books in translation fosters understanding among people and cultures. Children’s and young adult's access to literature is a precondition for democracy and openness.

This has been the big award week for Children's Literature. We have had the announcement of the Hans Christian Andersen Award winners and now the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award or ALMA. You can see a very short film here about the award and about Astrid Lindgren.

A total of 245 candidates from 68 countries and regions have been nominated for the 2024 award, including 66 candidates new from previous years. You can read about the 2022 nominees here. 

The list includes authors and illustrators, as well as storytellers and reading promoters. You can see the whole list here - there are some big names on this list which makes winning this award by the ILF even more impressive. Here are a few names I noticed of people who were nominated in 2024: Kate DiCamillo; Isabelle Arsenault; Deborah Ellis; Jon Klassen; Ivar Da Coll; Gilles Bachelet; Timothée de Fombelle; Tonke Dragt; Gavin Bishop; Atinuke; Iwona Chmielewska; Suzy Lee; Sven Nordqvist; Allan Ahlberg; David Almond; Malorie Blackman; Quentin Blake; Lauren Child; Julia Donaldson; Neil Gaiman; Michael Rosen; Katherine Rundell; Beverley Naidoo; Room to Read; Ursula Dubosarsky; and Ken Wilson-Max.

You can see past winners here. 

This is the THIRD time Australia has received this huge honour:

2008 Sonya Hartnett

I have previously talked about The Midnight Zoo; The Children of the King; Blue Flower; and Go Home Cat. Also Sadie and Ratz. Read Betsy Bird's comments about Sadie and Ratz. 

2011 Shaun Tan

Meet the illustrator Melissa Greenwood

This is Melissa's newest book due out in March, 2024

Melissa Greenwood is a Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung, Dunghutti women from the mid north coast of NSW, with a background community services, education, community development and events. Melissa has been living and working in the Victorian Aboriginal community for over 7 years.

Melissa works with her mother Lauren Jarrett to create colourful designs for a range of products from original artworks, to clothing, and homeware items. Some of their successful business adventures include a partnership with skincare brand Jurlique and a collection with retailer Adairs. In this interview Melissa talks about her inspiration. 

This week the CBCA (Children's Book Council of Australia) announced the 2024 Notables or long list for our children's book awards.  It was good to see a number of indigenous titles (see below) but the two latest books by Melissa Greenwood missed the cut and my friend who works in a school library was surprised. 

Miimi Marrall Mother Earth

Miimi Marraal, she created us, you and me ...

From Gumbaynggirr artist Melissa Greenwood, of mother-daughter art and design label Miimi and Jiinda, comes a deeply felt and heart-stirring picture book about the connection between mothers, babies and Miimi Marraal, Mother Earth.

We were sent this book for the 2022 CBCA judging. Here are my comments:

The tactile cover of this book is so appealing as are the soft pastel colours. The author explains this text is deeply personal but the story does have a universal feel. It reads like an intimate lullaby sung to a new baby. It is filled with hope, wisdom and love. I especially like the art on the page “you will always have sunshine, and water and beautiful places to play, swim and dance.” It would be good to pair this book with Baby Business by Jasmine Seymour.

Reading this book is like being invited to share an intimate moment between mother and child. The book welcomes readers into a special conversation and leaves you feeling warm, protected and inspired to live your best life. It’s simply beautiful.  Kids' Book Review

Giinagay Gaagal, Hello Ocean

Gaagal (ocean) is our special place, we love to swim in the waves. We'll catch some yamaarr (fish), eat, dance and play games.

"We see whales singing up their babies and dolphins splashing through the waves. They are our totems, you see, they make us feel safe."

The artwork complementing this story is spectacular, starting with the wavelike endpapers. Each page is a feast of colour, with bold black used for emphasis, inviting the young reader to explore, comment and maybe reflect on their own experience of a day at the beach. StoryLinks

My Little Barlaagany Sunshine

As the sun shines throughout the day, it warms your cheeks while we play. As the sun sets in the evening sky, say, 'Yaarri Yarraang, goodbye.'

This gentle bedtime story follows the journey a mother and child take across a day and into the Dreamtime - finding special places to visit, creatures to meet and new things to discover.

Read this review. Here is a quote: This picture book is exquisitely stunning, both visually and lyrically. Greenwood takes young readers by the hand into the Dreamtime, on a voyage that inspires yet lulls them to sleep. This moving story demonstrates the strong connection between parent and child, and also the power of storytelling. Greenwood uses abstract and dot paintings to vibrantly showcase Aboriginal Dreamtime art, complementing the prose beautifully. 

Greenwood’s art is stunning. Gorgeous colours, shapes and patterns fill every page, each with precise and special meaning that helps tell the story. This is art that speaks to your soul, and combined with Greenwood’s words, this story is a gift to all children of all cultures. Kids' Book Review

Miimi and Buwaarr, Mother and Baby

Being your miimi (mother) is the most precious gift life can give. When you were born you opened my heart as wide as the ocean.

Join Miimi (Mother) as she shares stories with her Buwaarr (baby) about the environment, language and totems; passing on the wisdom of Gumbaynggirr culture and a mother's hopes for baby's future.

Spending time with this book set today I have a renewed appreciation of these very special books. All four titles should be added to your school library. 

Here are the 2024 CBCA Indigenous Notable titles:

The Shop Train by Josie Wowolla Boyle illustrated by Paul Seden

"The railway track stretches across the plains as far as the eye can see. 

Rosie and her mother are waiting in the crowd to catch their first glimpse of the train."

Blurb Magabala Books: The Shop Train was inspired by the Tea and Sugar train that began operating in 1917 to provide supplies and services for rail workers and people living in remote communities between Port Augusta in South Australia and Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. The Shop Train is a heartwarming story about Rosie and her mum, and the rickety journey in their old car to pick up stores from the shop train. The train carried everything they needed, and was an exciting time for all who lived near its tracks. Rosie and her mum slowly wind their way through Wonghi country, on its dusty tracks and never-ending horizon, until they reach the train, brimming with activity and treasures from other places. Paul Seden’s evocative illustrations effortlessly capture a bygone era, rendering the past with a deep sense of nostalgia, whilst capturing its uncluttered beauty. The Shop Train was inspired by similar journeys author Josie Wowolla Boyle took as a young girl. It was these journeys that left unforgettable memories on Josie, no matter how young or old she may have been.

Here are a set of teachers notes for this book. I love the ending of The Shop Train where Rosie and her mum arrive home with their "fluffy flour, grainy rice, fine sugar, powdered milk, arrowroot biscuits and black tea leaves". Unfortunately, as they have travelled over the bumpy road, the paper bags have "split open and everything is mixed together".  

Luckily mum has a yandy or yandi dish. Mum is able to use this to sort out all the mixed up foods.

It would be good to read this book alongside Tea and Sugar Christmas and to compare the illustrations by Robert Ingpen with the work of Paul Seden. 

Illustration by Paul Seden

The pencil illustrations by Paul Seden, from the Wuthathi and Muralag people of North Queensland, give the reader a real sense of the vastness of the landscape. With the low scrub, flat plains, and Australian animals dotted around, it is difficult to imagine anyone living there. Glam Adelaide

Similar scene by Robert Ingpen

The River by Sally Morgan illustrated by Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr

"I love the river near my home. I look with my eyes, I listen with my ears, I learn about the life of the river. Look with your eyes, what do you see?"

The River uses the act of looking and listening to take note of what’s around us. The double-page spreads alternate between these two senses, asking either, “Look with your eyes. What do you see?” or “Listen with your ears. What do you hear?” Each question is then answered in a three-line response, naming the animal, describing its movement or sound, and mentioning the foliage. GLAM Adelaide

Read more about The River along with some ideas for using this book with your group of students on the Paperbark Words Blog and Joy Lawn. 

A universal story from Sally Morgan – this time a beautifully illustrated celebration of the life of the river. The River takes the reader on a journey of what their eyes can see and their ears can hear. See green ants crawling, hear frogs croaking, a goanna running, a fish splashing... Sally Morgan’s beautiful words and Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr’s sensitive artwork combine to make this a unique, distinctive children’s picture book with global appeal. Johnny infuses his illustrations with his fine-art aesthetic and his traditional motifs to bring each page to vivid life. Magabala Books

If you are looking for perfect indigenous picture books to share with any group of students try to find this series.  There are three books so far.

In 2017 Johnny was the inaugural winner of the Kestin Indigenous Illustrator Award. As the recipient of the biennial award, Johnny received $10,000, a mentorship and the opportunity to illustrate the children's picture book, Little Bird's Day by renowned author and illustrator Sally Morgan. Here is a video of Johnny reading his book. 

• CBCA 2020 Notable Book of the Year: Early Childhood
• CBCA 2020 Notable Book of the Year: Picture Book

A simple, universal story of a day in the life of Little Bird as she sings the world alive, flies with Cloud, travels with Wind, nestles with Moon and dreams of flying among the stars. Sally's gentle words and Johnny's intricate artwork combine to make this a beautiful, distinctive publication with global appeal. Johnny infuses his illustrations with his fine-art aesthetic, his traditional motifs and a quirky sense of humour. Magabala Books

Here is the newest book in this series. 

Another simple, universal story from Sally Morgan and Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr, this time, a beautifully illustrated celebration of rain. Thank you rain! is a joyful read, and is full of the plants and animals that welcome rain: raindrops in the treetops; birds singing in the rain; raindrops wetting the dry earth and filling creek beds; birds, frogs and kangaroos all enjoying the rain and finishing with Johnny dancing with happiness! Sally Morgan’s beautiful words and Johnny Warrkatja Malibirr’s sensitive artwork combine to give this distinctive children’s picture book global appeal. Johnny infuses his illustrations with his fine-art aesthetic and traditional motifs to bring each page to vivid life. Magabala Books

Here are other wonderful books by Sally Morgan - thanks to Children's Books Daily for creating this collage of covers.