What do you think?
Rate this book
Wilam: A Birrarung Story
As ngua rises, Bunjil soars over mountain ash, flying higher and higher as the wind warms. Below, Birrarung begins its long winding path down to palem warreen. Wilam – home. Yarra Riverkeeper Andrew Kelly joins award-winning picture book duo Aunty Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy to tell the Indigenous and geographical story of Melbourne’s beautiful Yarra river, from its source to its mouth; from its pre-history to the present day.
34 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2019
About the author
Aunty Joy Murphy
3 books7 followersJoy Murphy Wandin is a storyteller and writer who is passionate about using stories to bring people together and as a conduit for understanding aboriginal culture. She is an Officer of the Order of Australia. Welcome to Country is her first book. Aunty Joy lives in Victoria, Australia.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
April 28, 2021
Birrarung (BEER-ah-rung) = River
Wilam (WIL-um) = Home
Wow, this is a gorgeous book! The illustrations are incredible -- they at once have a timeless feel and weave in some Aboriginal motifs yet also incorporate modern cities, parks, a dam, humans... It is told with great reverence for nature and I think it will create a desire to protect the river, the wildlife, all of nature... yet there is (somewhat to my surprise) nothing that casts humans as the villains. Indeed, humans are shown as interacting with nature in positive ways, enjoying the beauty of a neighborhood pond, observing wildlife, bike riding through a park. The native Australian wildlife is rich and varied.
I found that there was enough context between the text and illustrations that I could figure out what animals were being talked about, even though they are called by their Woiwurrung names. (Fortunately, a glossary is at the back and clarifies those cases that remained a mystery.) I do recommend previewing the glossary before you use this as a read-aloud! ;-)
"As ngua rises, turning clouds over the distant city red, Bunjil soars over mountain ash, flying higher as the wind warms. Below, Birrarung begins its long winding path down to palem warreen."
There are a few interesting facts about the animals woven throughout. Here's an example:
"From her long burrow in the bank of Birraung, warin [wombat] comes out to eat. In her pouch s her young one. Her pouch opens backward so she doesn't flick in dirt when she digs."
This is an #OwnVoices book. Joy Murphy Wandin Ao is the Senior Aboriginal Elder of the Wurundjeri people of Melbourne and the surrounding area. Andrew Kelly is the Yarra (Birraung) Riverkeeper and it is his role to speak for the Yarra on behalf of the community. Lisa Kennedy is a descendant of the Trawlwoolway people from the northeast coast of Tasmania.
Highly recommend!!!
Wilam (WIL-um) = Home
Wow, this is a gorgeous book! The illustrations are incredible -- they at once have a timeless feel and weave in some Aboriginal motifs yet also incorporate modern cities, parks, a dam, humans... It is told with great reverence for nature and I think it will create a desire to protect the river, the wildlife, all of nature... yet there is (somewhat to my surprise) nothing that casts humans as the villains. Indeed, humans are shown as interacting with nature in positive ways, enjoying the beauty of a neighborhood pond, observing wildlife, bike riding through a park. The native Australian wildlife is rich and varied.
I found that there was enough context between the text and illustrations that I could figure out what animals were being talked about, even though they are called by their Woiwurrung names. (Fortunately, a glossary is at the back and clarifies those cases that remained a mystery.) I do recommend previewing the glossary before you use this as a read-aloud! ;-)
"As ngua rises, turning clouds over the distant city red, Bunjil soars over mountain ash, flying higher as the wind warms. Below, Birrarung begins its long winding path down to palem warreen."
There are a few interesting facts about the animals woven throughout. Here's an example:
"From her long burrow in the bank of Birraung, warin [wombat] comes out to eat. In her pouch s her young one. Her pouch opens backward so she doesn't flick in dirt when she digs."
This is an #OwnVoices book. Joy Murphy Wandin Ao is the Senior Aboriginal Elder of the Wurundjeri people of Melbourne and the surrounding area. Andrew Kelly is the Yarra (Birraung) Riverkeeper and it is his role to speak for the Yarra on behalf of the community. Lisa Kennedy is a descendant of the Trawlwoolway people from the northeast coast of Tasmania.
Highly recommend!!!
July 24, 2021
Aunty Joy Murphy, an elder and storyteller of the Aboriginal Wurundjeri people, joins with Yarra Riverkeeper Andrew Kelly and illustrator Lisa Kennedy, a descendant of Tasmania's Trawlwoolway people, to tell the story of the Birrarung, or Yarra River, in this gorgeous picture-book from Australia. From its source upcountry, in the yerin (bush), where parnmin (rain) falls on the djerung (leaves), and then gathers into a yaluk (creek), the Birrarung flows across the country, providing a wilam (home) to many animals - the boroin (superb fairy-wren), yanggai (black cockatoo), marram and murrum (kangaroo and joey), dulai-wurrung (platypus), waa (raven), warin (wombat), tadjerri (sugar glider possum), bathmu (duck), boggon (water rat) and wadjil (pelican) - before reaching its destination, and joining palem warreen (salty waters). Overseeing it all is ngua (the sun) and Bunjil, the eagle that is the creator spirit of the Wurundjeri people...
Originally published in Australia as Wilam: A Birrarung Story, and then in the United States as Birrarung Wilam: A Story from Aboriginal Australia, this superbly beautiful picture-book pairs an engaging and information narrative with breathtakingly gorgeous artwork. I liked the fact that the main text used Woiwurrung words - Woiwurrung is a language spoken by a number of related tribes, the Wurundjeri amongst them, whose traditional territory was in central Victoria - and that the words were defined at the rear, in a glossary. I also liked the glossary itself, which was arranged by order of appearance in the story, rather than alphabetically, and which was divided into separate sections for each page of the book, with a miniature picture of that page above each list of words. The narrative is educational, not just about the Birrarung (Yarra) River and the many animals that live on or near it, but because it teaches some Woiwurrung vocabulary. I always appreciate learning bits of new languages in this way, but I thought the Woiwurrung words were particularly lovely - Bunjil, tadjeiri, wadjil - and I enjoyed sounding them out. Lisa Kennedy's illustrations, done in acrylic, are a pure pleasure to peruse, utilizing a vibrantly colorful palette and beautifully stylized folk-art motifs.
This was just a wonderful book, and I thank the friend - thank you, Kathryn! - who recommend it to me. I will definitely be seeking out Aunty Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy's other collaboration, Welcome To Country . Highly recommended to all picture-book readers who enjoy stories about the natural world, or learning about new places and peoples. Also recommended to anyone seeking authentic stories from an Aboriginal Australian perspective.
Originally published in Australia as Wilam: A Birrarung Story, and then in the United States as Birrarung Wilam: A Story from Aboriginal Australia, this superbly beautiful picture-book pairs an engaging and information narrative with breathtakingly gorgeous artwork. I liked the fact that the main text used Woiwurrung words - Woiwurrung is a language spoken by a number of related tribes, the Wurundjeri amongst them, whose traditional territory was in central Victoria - and that the words were defined at the rear, in a glossary. I also liked the glossary itself, which was arranged by order of appearance in the story, rather than alphabetically, and which was divided into separate sections for each page of the book, with a miniature picture of that page above each list of words. The narrative is educational, not just about the Birrarung (Yarra) River and the many animals that live on or near it, but because it teaches some Woiwurrung vocabulary. I always appreciate learning bits of new languages in this way, but I thought the Woiwurrung words were particularly lovely - Bunjil, tadjeiri, wadjil - and I enjoyed sounding them out. Lisa Kennedy's illustrations, done in acrylic, are a pure pleasure to peruse, utilizing a vibrantly colorful palette and beautifully stylized folk-art motifs.
This was just a wonderful book, and I thank the friend - thank you, Kathryn! - who recommend it to me. I will definitely be seeking out Aunty Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy's other collaboration, Welcome To Country . Highly recommended to all picture-book readers who enjoy stories about the natural world, or learning about new places and peoples. Also recommended to anyone seeking authentic stories from an Aboriginal Australian perspective.
February 18, 2021
Told through the 'Woiwurrung language indigenous to the Australian Yarra River Basin', Birrarung follows the story of one river's journey and the language associated with by the indigenous people who have always lived there. Unlike many picturebooks that do tell river stories though (and there are many), there is a touching and powerful collaborative partnership here in evoking a language and cultural understanding of a sense of place which has belonged to the native people of this land: in this respect, it is unlike anything that I have read before.
Set within the present day, it follows the river's gradual journey through differing landscapes with Aunty Joy Murphy, Senior Aboriginal Elder of the Wurundjeri people, and Andrew Kelly, placing words and word-images in our path that describe both the fauna and flora. Some words are lost to translation but a sense of what they mean is clear. Luscious double-spreads adorn each page by Lisa Kennedy and I found these utterly engrossing.
This is a deeply poetic, visually rich and immersive read, preserving both a way of life which many of us might be ignorant of and a language that could have been lost. An extensive glossary at the back extends on the language as well as the story behind those who have contributed. A work of art.
Set within the present day, it follows the river's gradual journey through differing landscapes with Aunty Joy Murphy, Senior Aboriginal Elder of the Wurundjeri people, and Andrew Kelly, placing words and word-images in our path that describe both the fauna and flora. Some words are lost to translation but a sense of what they mean is clear. Luscious double-spreads adorn each page by Lisa Kennedy and I found these utterly engrossing.
This is a deeply poetic, visually rich and immersive read, preserving both a way of life which many of us might be ignorant of and a language that could have been lost. An extensive glossary at the back extends on the language as well as the story behind those who have contributed. A work of art.
April 26, 2019
What a beautiful read about the traditional Yarra, originally known as Birrarung. Aunty Joy’s words are rhythmic and lyrical as she takes is on this journey in the day of Birrarung and the creatures who love along its banks. The illustrations by Lisa Kennedy blend the worlds of the traditional animals with that of the modern world. Stunning is the best word to describe this package.
July 24, 2019
Wilam: A Birrarung Story (2019) is another story by Aunty Joy Murphy with Andrew Kelly, illustrated by Lisa Kennedy.
Andrew Kelly is a Yarra Riverkeeper, who had this to say about the writing process with Aunty Joy on the Booktopia Q&A site,
"The writing of the book was a process of bouncing words and ideas between myself and Aunty Joy. The first draft of the manuscript had many more words and it was a matter of whittling them down to a sufficient elegance. The other part I really liked was working with Aunty Joy on the language and creating a seamless flow between Woiwurrung words and English."
I love this trend in embracing and sharing Indigenous languages in a natural way. We should all be growing up, hearing and using Aboriginal words, not just in the names of our country towns and rivers, but in songs and everyday speech.
Aunty Joy Murphy and Andrew Kelly use traditional language to name many known animals and natural things (like rain, tree, creek, river etc) in a beautifully illustrated story about the water cycle.
"As ngua rises, Bunjil soars over mountain ash, flying higher and higher as the wind warms. Below, Birrarung begins its long winding path down to palem warreen. Wilam – home."
Kennedy has merged scenes of modern life into and around her central images of the natural environment. Gorgeous end papers bookend the story.
A glossary at the back provides definitions for all the Indigenous words used throughout the story.
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2019/...
Andrew Kelly is a Yarra Riverkeeper, who had this to say about the writing process with Aunty Joy on the Booktopia Q&A site,
"The writing of the book was a process of bouncing words and ideas between myself and Aunty Joy. The first draft of the manuscript had many more words and it was a matter of whittling them down to a sufficient elegance. The other part I really liked was working with Aunty Joy on the language and creating a seamless flow between Woiwurrung words and English."
I love this trend in embracing and sharing Indigenous languages in a natural way. We should all be growing up, hearing and using Aboriginal words, not just in the names of our country towns and rivers, but in songs and everyday speech.
Aunty Joy Murphy and Andrew Kelly use traditional language to name many known animals and natural things (like rain, tree, creek, river etc) in a beautifully illustrated story about the water cycle.
"As ngua rises, Bunjil soars over mountain ash, flying higher and higher as the wind warms. Below, Birrarung begins its long winding path down to palem warreen. Wilam – home."
Kennedy has merged scenes of modern life into and around her central images of the natural environment. Gorgeous end papers bookend the story.
A glossary at the back provides definitions for all the Indigenous words used throughout the story.
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2019/...
October 14, 2019
Brilliant illustrations, aboriginal dialect and individual words make this hard to read initially and would require some practice before reading aloud. Delightful portrayal of native fauna and flora. Many of the animals are portrayed with their young. Different elements of the natural Australian environment work in harmony in this celebration of the world from an indigenous perspective.
July 3, 2020
Beautifully illustrated, this book takes the Woiwurrung language and tells a story of home. Although there is a glossary at the end if needed, I liked the way this story encourages the use of inference to find out the meanings of the indigenous words, requiring the reader to pay close attention to the illustrations.
August 25, 2020
So unique the integration of language the illustrations are stunning
Read
June 24, 2021Beautiful illustrations.
The heritage of the creators makes them qualified to tell & paint the story from an OwnVoices viewpoint.
I feel the need to study the glossary before trying to read the story... I don't want to be continually drawn out of it, as I was on the very first page going in cold. I wonder at the choice to put the glossary at the end, instead of in small print on a corner of the page (as old poetry is sometimes presented to children), or instead of making the whole book bilingual (which would have not entirely solved the translation problem, would still have required a glossary, but would have enriched the experience of enjoying the book).
But, there was no story. It's a catalog of the critters that live along the "Yarra River."
I, personally, am disappointed. I don't even see what it particularly has to do with "Aboriginal Australia" because, except for the vocabulary words, it could have been told by any fan of the wildlife, and urban wildlife, along the path of the river.
No map or other after matter either.
I can neither rate nor recommend... but I do hope others read it and enjoy it more than I did.
The heritage of the creators makes them qualified to tell & paint the story from an OwnVoices viewpoint.
I feel the need to study the glossary before trying to read the story... I don't want to be continually drawn out of it, as I was on the very first page going in cold. I wonder at the choice to put the glossary at the end, instead of in small print on a corner of the page (as old poetry is sometimes presented to children), or instead of making the whole book bilingual (which would have not entirely solved the translation problem, would still have required a glossary, but would have enriched the experience of enjoying the book).
But, there was no story. It's a catalog of the critters that live along the "Yarra River."
I, personally, am disappointed. I don't even see what it particularly has to do with "Aboriginal Australia" because, except for the vocabulary words, it could have been told by any fan of the wildlife, and urban wildlife, along the path of the river.
No map or other after matter either.
I can neither rate nor recommend... but I do hope others read it and enjoy it more than I did.
June 27, 2021
I was introduced to this book while studying an early childhood teaching subject called Arts and Creative Pedagogies; a lecturer read the book and then composed a musical response to one of the illustrations. Beyond being a tool for creative inspiration, this is a lovely story about the mighty Birrarung (more commonly known as the Yarra River) as it winds its way down from the Victorian Central Highlands until it joins Port Phillip Bay; I recognised many spots from my own childhood and adult visits to the river. It showcases such a diversity of native wildlife along the way; love it.
December 21, 2020
I loved the artwork! But not being familiar with the native words that were used in the text, I did find it a little frustrating to have to flip to the back of the book on each page to read the translations of the non-English words. I'm glad that the native words were used, but as an English speaker it was hard to follow.
November 9, 2020
I’m completely smitten with this book. It seems to flow so gracefully, just like the river it describes. It has a lullaby quality, only better, since more gently wakeful. The illustrations by Lisa Kennedy are so alive with love for her subject matter and her medium. They absolutely sing with colour harmonies and painterly texture. I love them.
I also really liked the format with the glossaries at the back put with their associated page spreads. It made it fun to translate, and yet not intrusive to a reading without cross-referencing if that’s what you prefer. The book is beautifully thought out and presented and a delight to read.
I also really liked the format with the glossaries at the back put with their associated page spreads. It made it fun to translate, and yet not intrusive to a reading without cross-referencing if that’s what you prefer. The book is beautifully thought out and presented and a delight to read.
May 5, 2022
I must admit that this is not an easy book to read. It isn't one that flows off of your tongue. Why not? Because much of it isn't written in English. That makes it hard to read, but it is also what makes this book special. You have to work a little harder (the words are listed, page by page in the back) and you have to have a discussion with your child. What do you think this word means? Why are the words written in Woiwurrung in this story and not English? This gives children, and their parents, a glimpse at a world that includes many, many languages that are not English.
October 30, 2019
Lovely illustrations. Story-wise it's pretty mediocre though. Feel like it would be more of an "obligatory" purchase for most children, since I reckon they would find it hard to understand and kinda of boring.
April 8, 2019
Glorious and beautiful, a joy to read.
February 3, 2021
"Wilam" means "home."
July 27, 2021
Lisa Kennedy worked with Aunty Joy Murphy and Andrew Kelly, Yarra Riverkeeper, on Wilam: A Birrarung Story. Birrarung is the Woiwurrung word for the Yarra River, the river that flows through Naarm (Melbourne) and Wilam means home. The book begins with a quote from William Barak (1874, Wurundjeri Ngurungaeta) "Me no leave it, Yarra, my country. There's no mountains for me on the Murray." Where I live in Naarm there is a park named after William Barak (Barak Park). The Birrarung also flows close to where I live. This gorgeously illustrated book tells the story of the Birrarung from source to sea. There are many words here in Woiwurrung and they're not italicised and that's always something I like. There is a glossary in the back but while we're reading we can guess the words in context such as "Bunjil soaring over mountain ash". Bunjil is a wedge-tailed eagle. As we read we come across the wallert (leadbeater possum), boroin (superb fairy wren), running through farmland we see marram and murrum (grey kangaroos and joeys), we also see a dulai-wurrung (platypus) in its burrow with two babies, people sitting on a bench besides the Birrarung, a warin (wombat) with a baby in its pouch, we see the river becoming wider and wider until it gets to the city and to where it reaches palem wareen (salt water; bay). The glossary pages note that words in Woiwurrung do not translate directly into English. What they've done with the glossary is they've given the words for each page so we see some words repeated but this gives us a way to dive deep into certain pages as they stand. I know I said Sea Country was my favourite of Lisa Kennedy's work but going back over this one I can't say that anymore. It's impossible to choose. This one certainly covers many places where I've grown up so there are those personal connections.
January 15, 2021
Take a journey down the Yarra River near Melbourne, Australia in this Aboriginal picture book that celebrates native creatures and plants. Told using many words from the Woirurrung language, the book is a mixture of evocative language and poetic phrasing. Starting with a starry night sky, the picture book shows the path of the Birrarung as it winds along. It goes past trees where possums make their homes in hollow trees. Rain falls and the bright-blue fairy wren chases insects near his mate. Cockatoos fly past looking for pine cones and their seeds. Kangaroos gather where the river slows and platypus burrow with their babies. Ravens, pelicans, eagles, ducks and more fill the pages alongside the trees, water and river that create this unique ecosystem.
Because they use so many Woirurrung words, the book is almost a word game. The writing embraces the Aboriginal words, creating swirling and flowing lines of text that move like the river itself. Reading it aloud really lets the words sing out, evoking a place full of natural wonders. Here is the opening line to give you a taste of the style:
As ngua rises,
turning clouds over the distant city red,
Bunjil soars over mountain ash,
flying higher and higher as the wind warms.
Below, Birrarung begins its long
winding path down to palem warreen.
The illustrations done in acrylic show the various scenes along the river. They also allow readers to piece together what creatures and plants are being described in the text, finding the platypus, eagles and kangaroos. The illustrations are filled with Aboriginal art touches, the dots and patterns creating ripples of water, breezes and layers of earth.
Enchanting and full of wonders, this picture book is a resounding success. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
Because they use so many Woirurrung words, the book is almost a word game. The writing embraces the Aboriginal words, creating swirling and flowing lines of text that move like the river itself. Reading it aloud really lets the words sing out, evoking a place full of natural wonders. Here is the opening line to give you a taste of the style:
As ngua rises,
turning clouds over the distant city red,
Bunjil soars over mountain ash,
flying higher and higher as the wind warms.
Below, Birrarung begins its long
winding path down to palem warreen.
The illustrations done in acrylic show the various scenes along the river. They also allow readers to piece together what creatures and plants are being described in the text, finding the platypus, eagles and kangaroos. The illustrations are filled with Aboriginal art touches, the dots and patterns creating ripples of water, breezes and layers of earth.
Enchanting and full of wonders, this picture book is a resounding success. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
October 5, 2022
When the sun rises and the eagles soar over the mountains, Birrarung starts her journey through a winding path. First, she flows through the homes of those nocturnals returning home for a rest. Then those insects and birds that are preparing to start their day. Further, she rushes through the farmlands where the Kangaroo cubs are watching her from their mommies' pouches. Finally, by sunset, she reaches the city.
We picked this book based on a recommendation. This is a must-read book for every child, especially while discussing the reasons for protecting our water bodies. In addition, the illustrations are enchanting and praiseworthy. The book describes the journey of the river using aboriginal Australian terms.
Birrarung Wilam by Aunty Joy Murphy & Andrew Kelly is a must-read book on the Birrarung with frame-worthy illustrations.
Read the full review at Nothing But Picture Books
We picked this book based on a recommendation. This is a must-read book for every child, especially while discussing the reasons for protecting our water bodies. In addition, the illustrations are enchanting and praiseworthy. The book describes the journey of the river using aboriginal Australian terms.
Birrarung Wilam by Aunty Joy Murphy & Andrew Kelly is a must-read book on the Birrarung with frame-worthy illustrations.
Read the full review at Nothing But Picture Books
March 16, 2021
The illustrations are amazing - so much rich texture and color, and so many themes and details reminiscent of traditional designs. Even without the text, this is a visual treat and worth a read. The text adds an extra layer. There's a STEM (ecology) lesson with all the animals and habitats that you pass as you follow the Yarra River along its path, including lots of uniquely Australian species. And there's so much culture and vocabulary too. The Aboriginal terms are all defined (with pronunciation guides) at the end of the book. With the unfamiliar vocab (at least to most US or European ears - the audiences I work with), this takes some practice before being used as a read-aloud. But it would be a great addition to a program on Australia (or countries/continents in general), on nature, on wildlife, on rivers... And for older kids, it would be a really fun book for a lesson on context clues, using the pictures and the text to determine what different words mean. A unique addition to our library that I'm excited about.
December 20, 2023
Wilam traces the life of Birrarung (the Yarra River) ‘from its source to its mouth; from its pre-history to the present day’. The river flows through the land, winding past creatures and people and, eventually, buildings. It is a witness, across time, to the environment.
Lisa Kennedy’s illustrations, covering the full width and height of every page, are superb. Within the richly detailed artwork, the text finds space to nestle.
Senior Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy and riverkeeper Andrew Kelly use Woiwurrung words throughout the book. Although Woiwurrung language ‘does not translate directly into English’, a glossary enables the reader to discover meaning and to practice pronunciation.
For more Australian Indigenous history books for children, see my blog post on this theme: https://tessawooldridge.com/2020/10/0...
Lisa Kennedy’s illustrations, covering the full width and height of every page, are superb. Within the richly detailed artwork, the text finds space to nestle.
Senior Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy and riverkeeper Andrew Kelly use Woiwurrung words throughout the book. Although Woiwurrung language ‘does not translate directly into English’, a glossary enables the reader to discover meaning and to practice pronunciation.
For more Australian Indigenous history books for children, see my blog post on this theme: https://tessawooldridge.com/2020/10/0...
January 25, 2021
Picture book. I love learning about other languages, and usually when there are words of another language sprinkled into an English text, I know the language (French or Spanish) and can understand without a translation or glossary. This book was different as the words interspersed are from the Woiwurrung language of Aboriginal Australia. It was a bit frustrating at first, but there is a glossary and pronunciation guide at the back of the book. Once I realized the words used were for animals or other natural elements, it was easier to understand without referencing the glossary. The illustrations are beautiful, of various Australian animals living on the Yarra River. An interesting look into another place and culture.
January 6, 2024
I 100% respect and support this story of an Aboriginal Australian tale, however, I had no clue what was going on/happening until the very end of the freaking Glossary.
Hopefully, we get more good children's books like these? But with BETTER description about WHAT the story is referring to???
I'm so, so, SO sorry if my knowledge about Aboriginal Australian culture is so primitive and little, but as someone who would want to read more books about this type of history (and broaden my knowledge about it), there needs to be some clarity or prefacing about what is being talked about/a quick basic introduction to the mythology in general.
Get me??
Hopefully, we get more good children's books like these? But with BETTER description about WHAT the story is referring to???
I'm so, so, SO sorry if my knowledge about Aboriginal Australian culture is so primitive and little, but as someone who would want to read more books about this type of history (and broaden my knowledge about it), there needs to be some clarity or prefacing about what is being talked about/a quick basic introduction to the mythology in general.
Get me??
October 9, 2020
Firstly, this book is absolutely beautiful! The illustrations are lush and detailed.
This book tells a traditional Australian Aboriginal story about the Yarra river, using lots of words from the Woiwurrung language throughout. It was fun to try to guess what all the animals were before looking at the translations in the glossary!
This book tells a traditional Australian Aboriginal story about the Yarra river, using lots of words from the Woiwurrung language throughout. It was fun to try to guess what all the animals were before looking at the translations in the glossary!
January 16, 2021
What a beautiful book. The illustrations are intense color and crowd the pages with detail. The story is told using the traditional vocabulary of the Woiwurrung language. (glossary at the end). Although the words might not immediately be understood, there is joy in hearing the music of the language AND fun in figuring out their meaning.
January 26, 2021
Admittedly, it's close to my heart, as a story tracing the passage of Birrarung (the Yarra River) from headwaters to the sea, and all of the animals that make their home within or alongside it. The illustrations are gorgeous, and the use of Woiwurrung language to name everything is likewise illuminating.
October 7, 2020
The illustrations are stunning and the language lyrical. A majority of the story told in Woiwurrung language. The glossary was extremely helpful for words not gleaned through context. Takes some effort to read but worth it.
July 2, 2022
Great story about the Birrarung - and the aboriginal stories. I loved the imagery and the different themes presented throughout the book. It was a fun read, and would be fabulous in school libraries!
July 6, 2022
I was completely WOW-ed by the very first page of this book's incredibly vibrant and intricate art. Accompanied by Aboriginal language, Birrarung Wilam shows a plethora of wildlife that thrive along the river. Absolutely breathtaking!
May 2, 2023
This book traces a river from its origin to the ocean. It incorporates words and spiritual concepts of the Australian people, the Wurundjeri. It shows the animals & people the river passes in one day.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews