Giinagay Gaagal, Hello Ocean (Melissa Greenwood, ABC Books)

With Giinagay Gaagal, Hello Ocean, Gumbaynggirr artist Melissa Greenwood, from the NSW region known as Coffs Harbour, once again gifts us with a beautiful ode to family and the land. Giinagay Gaagal is a delightful adventure to the beach, with three generations of family playing together on Country. In rhyming text, the family pays respect to the land, greeting it upon arrival and promising to take care while visiting. They dance and play on the sand and in the water, collecting fruit, fish and pipis. Mum makes pipi stew, which the family eats together at the end of the day. When it’s time to leave, the family shows their gratitude to the land—‘Goodbye ocean, and thank you … until next time!’ Greenwood is the founder and director of art and design label Miimi and Jiinda, and each spread is a stunning work of art. As with her previous offerings, Miimi Marraal and My Little Barlaagany, Giinagay Gaagal delivers beautiful, bold, striking colours to accompany the joyous text. The full text is presented as a poem in a double-page spread at the back, first in Gumbaynggirr, then English, presented side-by-side. Perfect for little ones from 0–4, Giinagay Gaagal would also make a wonderful gift for overseas friends.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Hannah Gardiner has been a bookseller since the pre-Titlepage era. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Category: Reviews