The prose is as alive as the illustrations!
Feature image credit: Magabala Books
Want to learn more about the Western Arrarnta language, or the communities at Iwupathaka, Ntaria or Urrapingya?
Author Marjorie ‘Nunga’ Williams is a senior Western Arrernte woman who spent her childhood living between Iwupataka (Jay Creek), Ntaria (Hermannsburg), and her mother’s Country, Urrapingya, at Tempe Downs. Her children’s book, aptly titled Old Days, is a personal tribute to those years and is dedicated to her Grandmother, Yillie Driffen, who, she says, taught her how to tell stories.
As the author’s voice is so vivid, it feels spoken, and as the book feels alive, Old Days invites curiosity about the language and places of Nunga’s ancestry. The book reads like a story being told on Country, with a voice that is strong and personal. The illustrations are vivid and animated.
The book is well structured, with each double-page spread pairing text with a full illustration. As a bilingual book, each text page has English written in white font, Western Arrarnta in black font, and a question about the page’s prose accompanied by a small icon. This asks the audience to engage with the text, making it suitable for educational settings, as well as appealing to independent beginner learners or for shared reading at home.
I found the entire story to be culturally and historically educational but in an autobiographical way, offering insights into daily life, the landscape, foods, and the value of water in community. The story concludes in the present, depicting her life now, as a Tangentyere Artist in Mperntwe.
Reviewed by Rebecca Wu
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: Magabala Books
Released: July 2025
RRP: $27.99
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