Translated from Spanish by Sofía Huitrón Martínez.
Graphic Universe, 2022.
Andrea, a young Indigenous Colombian woman, has returned
to the land she calls home. Only nineteen years old, she comes to mourn her
lost child, carrying a box in her arms. And she comes with another mission.
Andrea has hidden a camera upon herself. If she can capture evidence of the
illegal mining that displaced her family, it will mark the first step toward
reclaiming their land.
War, grief, protest, Indigenous rights, sexual assault,
displacement – so much going on in such a slim volume – but one that packs a
bunch.
From celebrations to traditions - over this month I've travelled the globe, and subjects - and I hope you enjoyed the journey with me.
The big bath house by Kyo Maclear & Gracey Zhang.
A celebration of traditions and growing up. And of bodies of all shapes and sizes.
Come together: things every Aussie kid should know about the First Peoples by Isaiah Firebrace & Jaelyn Biumaiwai.
In this essential book, Isaiah, a Yorta Yorta and Gunditjmara man, establishes a foundation of First Nations knowledge with 20 key topics. Alongside bright and contemporary illustrations by Mununjali and Fijian artist Jaelyn Biumaiwai, Isaiah connects us to each topic through his own personal story and culture, from the importance of Elders to the Dreaming. From Koori Curriculum.
This is a taonga (treasure). It is worth trying to find, to get some insights into one of the oldest continuous culture on our planet.
Coming home to country by Bronwyn Bancroft.
The colours, smells, and sounds of the author's Country are vividly brought to life. Australia is home to many a Country.
Country is the connection Australian First Nations have to a place. To the lands, seas, and waterways. To their family and community.
The ocean calls by Tina Cho & Jess X. Snow.
The pull of traditions, and aspirations. But, seriously, wouldn't you want to grow up and be a haenyeo - a free diving mermaid?
How my Koro became a star by Brianne Te Paa & Story Hemi Moorhouse.
The author, Brianne Te Paa, is a local for me. Literally works a ten minute walk away. We've done story readings at the same events - at a venue equidistant.
Even without that geographical connection, this book would pull on my heart, and I would find a home for it in my house, and my life.
I will admit to haunting our library catalogue in the hopes that this would eventually arrive! I was getting very close to making a purchasing suggestion.
Yet again, death features in one of my choices.
Those books don't usually come with a whole heap of Mariah Carey love!
The under-the-radar, low-level bullying of James is something that hits close to home.
Again, those middle years can be complete hell. They were the worst years of my bullying - and by those who were, ostensibly, my friends.
Through it all, James keeps his glitter on. I quashed mine down.
Picture book translated from another language:
My father's arms are a boat
By Stein Erik Lunde; illustrated by Oyvind Torseter; translated from the Norwegian by Kari Dickson.
Understated, with collage illustrations.
