Sky Country (Aunty Patsy Cameron & Lisa Kennedy, Magabala)

Grandmother takes her young grandchildren on a walk up a mountain in Trouwerner (Tasmania). As they walk together, Grandmother retells an ancient story of creation, sky, and the First Peoples of the land. The oral story begins with Ancestral Beings Pineterrinner and Pumpermehowlle, two brothers who walked through the black (Tonenermuckkellenner) and white (Pullener) Milky Way to Trouwerner, where they created islands, cut riverways, and made plants, animals and the First People. In Sky Country, award-winning author/illustrator duo Aunty Patsy Cameron and Lisa Kennedy (Sea Country, 2021) have created another dazzling picture book that connects young readers to First Nations history, land and knowledge. Aunty Patsy Cameron’s simple yet deeply enriching narrative is complemented by Lisa Kennedy’s beautiful, double-page full-colour illustrations depicting Trouwerner’s natural and plentiful landscape and its inhabitants. Featuring the traditional language of Trouwerner’s North-East Clan Country, Sky Country combines Western scientific knowledge with traditional cultural history, highlighting the importance of ‘two ways of knowing’, generational oral storytelling and connection to Country. The end of the book also allows children to learn about the native animals of Trouwerner and engage with the book further. Perfect for children aged 5 and up, Sky Country will be a fantastic addition to any bookshelf.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Anthea Yang is a writer and editor living in Naarm/Melbourne. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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