Powerful messages, beautifully delivered.
Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson, who were the authors of Nganga: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander words and phrases, have teamed up again to deliver us Respect and prove they are a winning combination.
The cover features a large, bold title, with the powerful word that is the topic of many conversations across Australia in the media and government right now. The vibrant and beautiful illustration by Lisa Kennedy captivate the reader too, all set in front of a golden background colour that catches the eye and makes it stand out on the shelf.
Respect is beautifully written to explain important messages that are delivered simply. They educate future generations about the long and rich Aboriginal culture in Australia. This is done through the image of a young girl as she embarks on a journey to learn about Country, nature, her heritage and her elders. She learns the importance of family and the value of respecting not only each other, but ourselves.
These important messages are complemented by all of the bright and captivating illustrations of Kennedy, They bring this book to life. Respect truly is a work of art that you will want to have on display in your classroom.
This is the first in the Our Place series of four children’s picture books. They have been developed and written to invite and teach children about the important elements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in an engaging way that can be easily understood. Best suited to the age range of 3-7 years, this book is perfect for early childhood classrooms. The Our Place series should be a must-have in every Preschool and School in Australia as a way to introduce and embed cultural competence.
Respect is a delightful book, which I feel privileged to have read and have shared with my own young students.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has or works with young children. I can’t wait to get my hands on the rest in the series, with the second title in the series ‘Family’ recently released in July.
Reviewed by Karlie Naulty
Distributed by: Magabala Books
Released: May 2020
RRP: $24.99
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