Learning country by Ryhia Dank

Subtitled A First Nations journey around Australia’s traditional place names, gives a sound idea as to what will be found when the book is read.

On the title page is a map of Australia with the fifteen places shown, and this will intrigue children as they see the places known to them perhaps by a different name. From Gulmerragin in the north, to Rubibi, known as Broome, to Boorloo and Tarndanya, the places across the north of Australia are shown, the illustrations reflecting some of the things to be found in that vicinity.

Each double page with its contemporary artwork using traditional decorative methods, shows animals and flowers, birds and vegetation, as well as geographic features associated with the named place.

I love the lurking crocodile featured on Borroloola, the hammerhead shark in the background of wetlands Boigu, the bunya pines of Meeanjin country, and the whales on Gadigal land. Each page presents something to search out, to recognise and marvel over. Kids will love to copy the names using the motifs presented, and learn how to say those unfamiliar to them. The Canberra name will intrigue, encouraging students to look at the meaning of the name and why it was selected as the name for our capitol city. In the snow gums can be seen the kookaburra, a particular motif of the area.

Ryhia Dank’s journey around Australia helps the readers learn about some of the more well known places, just as Dank wanted to journey to learn more about her land.

I love listening to ABC RN with its acknowledgement of where each radio show comes from, and this book gives some of those names and we can see how these are written, so expanding the knowledge of these traditional names. Kids will love spotting the array of things shown on each page: jelly fish, lizards, the Aboriginal flag, footprints and loads of insects, to name a few. 

Themes: Aboriginal flag, Aboriginal names, Journeys, Australian animals.

Fran Knight