Sorry Day

by Coral Vass, Dub Leffler

Sorry Day acknowledges the past and shows a willlingness to make things right. The story commemorates both the momentous speech made by the Prime Minister of Australia to say sorry to the indigenous people for past abuse and to also recognise the decades of abuse suffered by the Stolen Generation. Told through the eyes of a young girl participating in the ceremony today and, in sepia colours, the eyes of the stolen children in the past.

Genres: Picture Books, Australia, Indigenous, History, Childrens, Historical

34 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2018

About the author

Coral Vass is an award-winning Australian children's author. She has always loved telling stories and has been writing books for over ten years. Coral is an ambassador for Reading Out of Poverty and is passionate about giving all children an equal opportunity to read.

Reviews

[Clare Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and tragic. The intertwining of the two storylines is cleverly done. I love Dub Leffler's art.

[Amy (Lost in a Good Book) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a remarkable book as it celebrates the momentous speech by Kevin Rudd in 2008 but it also shows the past and the horrors indigenous people had to endure. Vass uses Rudd’s real words and she weaves it into this young girl’s story, not quite understanding the impact, but we see it through her mum and the adults around her.

As one story unfolds about that wonderful February day, it is shadowed by the realities of the history those words represent. The contrast from page to page is a stark reminder and a beautifully heartbreaking juxtaposition about the two eras, and what the importance of the speech means. In the present a young girl loses the hand of her mother and is lost momentarily in the crowd, in the past, young children lose their parents forever.

I loved that each page threw up into a different time in history. From the lawns of Canberra, to the creeks where children hide in terror, then back to watching the speech. It is such a powerful move to bring the voices of the past into the present.

Leffler uses colour to show the differences between eras, colours for the present, with sepia depicting the past. The images are vivid and emotive and coupled with Vass’ words and my own understanding of history, it is incredibly clever to see these two moments side by side.

More people need to remember this speech, remember the impact it had, but also remember why it needed to be said in the first place and wonder just why it took so long to be said. This is the ideal book to tell the story in an impactful yet gentle way and it is certainly one that can spark great discussions.

A longer version of this review was published on my blog Lost in a Good Book

[Brona's Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sorry Day (2018) by Coral Vass and illustrated by Dub Leffler tells two stories told side by side - a modern story set on the lawns of Parliament House on the day that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised for the Stolen Generation.

The older story provides a window into what it felt like to be stolen.

"Hide. HIDE!!"
"White men
The children trembled."

I have read sections of the Stolen Generation report and feel that I am open to seeing things from a perspective other than my own, but it is still confronting to realise that Aboriginal children today, and of old, automatically viewed all white men as people who they should fear.

Dub Lefller is from the Bigambul and Mandandanji people of SW Queensland. His illustrations include a sepia style for the historic story, while the modern story is in full colour. A double page spread opens up at the end to combine the two styles. A timeline with the relevant facts and figures about the Stolen Generation and the events leading up to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology are provided at the end.

The book includes a foreward by Lee Joachim, Chair of Rumbalara Aboriginal Coop and Director of Research & Development for Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation.
Full review here- http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2019/...

[Adam Gibson-Even]

At the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection. Impressive.

[Tessa Wooldridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illustrated by Dub Leffler, a descendant of the Bigambul people of south-west Queensland, Sorry Day blends the stories of a mother and daughter, both named Maggie, who each experience separation from their mothers. The younger Maggie is briefly separated from her mother (the older Maggie) on the day of the Apology to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples; the older Maggie remembers her extended experience of forced separation.

Leffler’s illustrations guide the reader between the two stories – young Maggie’s separation is shown in a full colour palette; her mother’s memories are rendered in sepia tones. The two stories are also distinguished from each other through the use of roman type for young Maggie’s tale and italics for her mother’s story. The book closes with factual information about National Sorry Day.

Sorry Day provides an evocative point of entry for children to glean some insight into the impact of the family, cultural and country separation experienced by members of the Stolen Generations.

For more Australian Indigenous history books for children, see my blog post on this theme: https://tessawooldridge.com/2020/10/0...

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sorry Day by Coral Vass and Illustrated by Dub Leffler is a remarkable book for a number of reasons. Vass and Leffler have created the perfect book that illustrates the then Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd's historic 2008 speech where he apologised for the government's policy towards Aboriginals which resulted in the stolen generation.

Within the book, this speech shows a contemporary community watching and reacting to the 2008 speech, with the focus on a young child positioned in the crowd. As Rudd's speech is presented in the 'present' time, Vass and Leffler juxtapose this against the historic reactions of the stolen generation on every second double-page spread. In both representations, we see small children, fearful and traumatised as they are separated from their parents. For the historic representation, this is done using force; the present-day representation the small child has wandered off in the sea of legs and is unable to find Mum.

Sorry Day is a poignant reminder of the need to educate all Australians about the harm that has transpired, and the need for the government to apologise. The picture book serves as a constant reminder, educational tool and perhaps most importantly, a comparison for today and future generations to understand a small percentage of the fear and nightmares the Indigenous community lived for years on end.

UPDATE: Sorry Day by Coral Vass and illustrated by Dub Leffler was awarded the winner of the 2019 CBCA Eve Pownall Award.

This review was originally posted at The Never Ending Bookshelf and can be found here: https://wp.me/p3yY1u-1RE

[AD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book cleverly tells two stories at once - a historical story of Aboriginal children who were stolen from their homes and families, and a contemporary story of a young girl and her mother attending the event where then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised to the Aboriginal people for this historical act. The juxtaposed fear of the children (in the past because they were being taken from their homes, and in the contemporary setting because Maggie falls and is afraid she has lost her mother in the crowd) is a powerful way to help children understand what it must have been like. There is also factual information at the back of the book which helps explain the context and history of the Stolen Generations.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful representation of a nation, lead by Kevin Rudd, that finally found the courage to say sorry to the indigenous owners of Australia. Dub Leffler harnesses colour to separate the present day events with the past, represented in muted sepia colours. Life like illustrations share the fear and agony of the children - the Stolen Generation taken in the past, and the young girl temporarily separated from her mother. A moving story that will spark questions and the need for explanations with young readers.

[Freddie D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impossible to read this without tearing up. It's brutal but absolutely necessary reading. The author has woven two storylines seamlessly together; one in the present day and one depicting the atrocities of the Stolen Generations. It's age-appropriate and poetic, yet understandably uncomfortable. Without confronting these horrific histories, we are doomed to repeat them. And on top of all of that, the illustrations are absolutely stunning. A true work of art. It's no wonder this won big in the CBCA Book of the Year Awards.

[Dragonladymoi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this story. It is two stories in tandem: Maggie and her mother attend a momentous occasion for the Stolen Generation when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd acknowledges the sorrows of the past and says 'Sorry" to the children who were taken from their homes. Maggie gets lost in the crowd and the memories of the past swirl around, telling the story of the Stolen Generation.

Coral Vass, author, and Dub Leffler, illustrator, present the story of the Stolen Generation in a way that children can identify with the issues within the story. It is an appropriate picture book for children to read and enjoy; as well as reflect on the history and issues for education purposes.

[Julia Mes]

This gem of a picture book brought tears to my eyes. It is about 2 young aboriginal girls from different times. The first was abducted by white men and never saw her family again. Decades later, the second witnesses a white man apologise to all indigenous peoples Australia for what is called the Stolen Generation.
Packed with a poetic flair and heart-wrenching illustrations as well as to-know facts at the end, this book is a tool for teaching and loving.
Amazing!!!

[Natasha Allday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dub Leffler's illustrations are just magic. His ability to convey emotion through his exquisite drawings is remarkable. The quiver in Rudd's chin is captured to great effect, signifying the sincerity of his words. How Howard can possibly view the reactions of the Australian people to this apology and say it was hollow and meaningless is beyond words.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and important book - Dub Leffler's illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, and work so well bringing Coral Vass's words to life. The story of both the stolen children and a child momentarily lost on Sorry Day is incredibly well done. Should be read by pretty much everyone.

[Montana O'Neill]

This story shares the experiences of characters from the same family, generations apart. Maggie attends Sorry Day events while the story of Indigenous children being taken from their family is told simultaneously.

Themes: Australian history, Indigenous history

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

The key word at the end is hope - there's still such a long way to go to actual reconciliation.

[Bree · Rating 1 out of 5]

As one of several mums experiencing the same thing since this book was read at my child’s preschool during reconciliation week, this book gives children recurrent nightmares and anxiety about men who appear to be white.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coral Vass and illustrator Dub Leffler explain the history of national Sorry Day in Australia each 26 May.
The text is simple, allowing easy access for any reader, and is highly supported by the beautiful illustrations.
There are two stories that run in parallel, each story appearing on an alternating pages.

The modern story portrays a young child and her mother standing at the original 2008 Sorry Day Presentation where the Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologized to the stolen generations. The story from the past shows white men coming to forcibly remove aboriginal children from their families. The frontispiece and end notes provide supportive context. Sorry Day is a story of acknowledgement and hope.