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Rainbow Bird: An Aboriginal Folktale from Northern Australia
When the world was being born, only rough and crabby Crocodile Man possessed the gift of fire, and he was unwilling to share it, so Bird Woman thinks of a plan to trick Crocodile Man into sharing fire.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1993
2 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 23, 2018
Rainbow Bird is a traditional Aboriginal Dreamtime story, a Creation myth from Northern Australia, retold using simple language, as a picture book for younger readers by Eric Maddern and Adrienne Kennaway. It tells of how people discovered fire, how Rainbow Bird - a brilliantly bright parrot - got her vivid coloured feathers, and why the crocodile is so snappy and bad-tempered.
The story begins in a classic way, ensuring familiarity and continuance with other Aboriginal folk tales. It talks of the Dreamtime, it talks of familiar creatures who inhabit the land, and it talks of a trickster, in this case Woman tricking Man.
"Long ago in the Time of Dreams when the world was being born, there lived a rough, tough Crocodile Man. He was huge and mean and scary, and he had one thing nobody else had."
In the tale, Crocodile Man jealously guarded his prize, ensuring that the rest of the world stayed cold and dark. But Bird Woman was too clever for him. She watched and waited, and then seized her opportunity and snatched up the firesticks while Crocodile Man was dozing. Bird woman did not keep the secret to herself, but shared it with the whole world, putting his firesticks into her tail. And that was how a blaze of feathers turned her into a Rainbow Bird.
The watercolour illustrations in this picture book are very attractive. Adrienne Kennaway has used predominantly yellow-orange fire colours, with a few cooler shades such as mauve or green in the background environment for contrast and atmosphere. The pictures are simplified, yet realistic; the reader almost senses the heat emanating from the pictures - and the crocodile is very scary indeed,
"Crocodile Man opened his jaws and gave the widest, longest, sleepiest, biggest yawn anyone had ever seen."
There is a painterly feel to this book as a traditional water colour technique has been used. Each applied colour is transparent rather than overlaid, with nuances and depth of shades concentrated and intensified towards the edge of each block of colour. The resulting effect is of glowing heat.
Adrienne Kennaway's talented work belongs to a mixed heritage. Born in New Zealand, the artist grew up in Kenya, East Africa, and studied in both London and Rome. She has illustrated and written many children's books and won the Kate Greenaway Medal for children's illustration in 1987.
The author Eric Maddern has written children’s books, articles and papers, and has adapted many folk tales from various cultures. Born in Australia, he then studied sociology and psychology at Sheffield University in the UK, before travelling around the world for a decade, much of which was spent performing in the Aboriginal communities of central Australia. He now performs widely as a storyteller and folk singer, holding storytelling events in a roundhouse which he constructed in the grounds of his own home in Wales. He also works as a professional storyteller at historic sites, in museums, art galleries, fairs, forests, festivals and schools, as well as teaching and organising workshops.
Both the writer and the illustrator of this book thus have mixed cultural influences, and use a lively presentation. Although the book is a creative and skilful piece of work - and hugely enjoyable to read - it does have an unexpectedly European feel, probably due to the joint European experience of both creators. It is a great shame that although the hot and arid feel of Australia is conveyed dramatically, the traditional Aboriginal colours, styles and motifs are consistently and completely ignored. This edition of the folk tale was published in 1993, yet there is not one reference in the entire book to Aboriginal Art.
For this reason the book stays at a three star read.
The story begins in a classic way, ensuring familiarity and continuance with other Aboriginal folk tales. It talks of the Dreamtime, it talks of familiar creatures who inhabit the land, and it talks of a trickster, in this case Woman tricking Man.
"Long ago in the Time of Dreams when the world was being born, there lived a rough, tough Crocodile Man. He was huge and mean and scary, and he had one thing nobody else had."
In the tale, Crocodile Man jealously guarded his prize, ensuring that the rest of the world stayed cold and dark. But Bird Woman was too clever for him. She watched and waited, and then seized her opportunity and snatched up the firesticks while Crocodile Man was dozing. Bird woman did not keep the secret to herself, but shared it with the whole world, putting his firesticks into her tail. And that was how a blaze of feathers turned her into a Rainbow Bird.
The watercolour illustrations in this picture book are very attractive. Adrienne Kennaway has used predominantly yellow-orange fire colours, with a few cooler shades such as mauve or green in the background environment for contrast and atmosphere. The pictures are simplified, yet realistic; the reader almost senses the heat emanating from the pictures - and the crocodile is very scary indeed,
"Crocodile Man opened his jaws and gave the widest, longest, sleepiest, biggest yawn anyone had ever seen."
There is a painterly feel to this book as a traditional water colour technique has been used. Each applied colour is transparent rather than overlaid, with nuances and depth of shades concentrated and intensified towards the edge of each block of colour. The resulting effect is of glowing heat.
Adrienne Kennaway's talented work belongs to a mixed heritage. Born in New Zealand, the artist grew up in Kenya, East Africa, and studied in both London and Rome. She has illustrated and written many children's books and won the Kate Greenaway Medal for children's illustration in 1987.
The author Eric Maddern has written children’s books, articles and papers, and has adapted many folk tales from various cultures. Born in Australia, he then studied sociology and psychology at Sheffield University in the UK, before travelling around the world for a decade, much of which was spent performing in the Aboriginal communities of central Australia. He now performs widely as a storyteller and folk singer, holding storytelling events in a roundhouse which he constructed in the grounds of his own home in Wales. He also works as a professional storyteller at historic sites, in museums, art galleries, fairs, forests, festivals and schools, as well as teaching and organising workshops.
Both the writer and the illustrator of this book thus have mixed cultural influences, and use a lively presentation. Although the book is a creative and skilful piece of work - and hugely enjoyable to read - it does have an unexpectedly European feel, probably due to the joint European experience of both creators. It is a great shame that although the hot and arid feel of Australia is conveyed dramatically, the traditional Aboriginal colours, styles and motifs are consistently and completely ignored. This edition of the folk tale was published in 1993, yet there is not one reference in the entire book to Aboriginal Art.
For this reason the book stays at a three star read.
June 21, 2023
I read this book to/ with my class of Y 1&2. We enjoyed the book, particularly the art and noted how it is similar to some of our own folk tales, despite this one being from peoples who live literally on the other side of the planet.
We enjoyed discussing the meaning within the book, of how to share (fire) but also how being cruel and selfish can have long lasting consequences. We then had a discussion about weather or not we should or could forgive the crocodile, which led to a small class debate. I admit they were quite merciless.
We enjoyed discussing the meaning within the book, of how to share (fire) but also how being cruel and selfish can have long lasting consequences. We then had a discussion about weather or not we should or could forgive the crocodile, which led to a small class debate. I admit they were quite merciless.
Want to read
July 16, 2020Aboriginal Art / Stories.
Australian animals, art and culture.
Symbolism in art, aboriginal symbols to represent landscape, people, animals.
To read before art class. Exposure to different cultures. Folktales.
Australian animals, art and culture.
Symbolism in art, aboriginal symbols to represent landscape, people, animals.
To read before art class. Exposure to different cultures. Folktales.
January 18, 2015
Young readers will be attracted to the bright colors and lovely illustrations in this book. There are a few different perspectives that may be considered in this tale by readers such as that of the crocodile, who honestly felt that he had rightful ownership of fire, or mankind(people) who had no fire to cook their food with or keep them warm until the intervention of the bird.This book is developmentally appropriate for all ages and is a fun read for students who are learning about folktales
October 17, 2014
The contrast between the philanthropic rainbow bird and the greedy, selfish crocodile make the story applicable to today's world. Children love that the bird starts off grey and becomes rainbow coloured as well as being drawn in by the exciting concept of a fire-breathing crocodile. For a non-violent book it has a lot to offer all the little super-hero fans who want a convincing "bad-guy".
July 22, 2011
This Australian folk tale tells the story of how Bird Woman tricked the mean and selfish Crocodile Man into sharing fire with all the animals.
Beautiful illustrations but the story itself is kind of tame. There is no explanation of the origins of this story.
Beautiful illustrations but the story itself is kind of tame. There is no explanation of the origins of this story.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews