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Bindi
WINNER Daisy Utemorrah Award 2019
WINNER WAPBA
Meet 11-year-old Bindi. She’s not really into maths but LOVES art class and playing hockey. Her absolute FAVOURITE thing is adventuring outside with friends or her horse, Nell.
A new year starts like normal—school, family, hockey, dancing. But this year hasn’t gone to plan! There’s a big art assignment, a drought, a broken wrist AND the biggest bushfires her town has ever seen!
Bindi is a verse novel for mid-upper primary students. Written ‘for those who plant trees’, Bindi explores climate, bushfires, and healing. Written from the point of view of 11-year-old, Bindi and her friends on Gundungurra Country.
WINNER WAPBA
Meet 11-year-old Bindi. She’s not really into maths but LOVES art class and playing hockey. Her absolute FAVOURITE thing is adventuring outside with friends or her horse, Nell.
A new year starts like normal—school, family, hockey, dancing. But this year hasn’t gone to plan! There’s a big art assignment, a drought, a broken wrist AND the biggest bushfires her town has ever seen!
Bindi is a verse novel for mid-upper primary students. Written ‘for those who plant trees’, Bindi explores climate, bushfires, and healing. Written from the point of view of 11-year-old, Bindi and her friends on Gundungurra Country.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published November 5, 2020
13 people are currently reading
498 people want to read
About the author
Kirli Saunders
10 books42 followersKirli Saunders is a proud Gunai Woman and award-winning writer, artist, and consultant. An experienced speaker and facilitator advocating for the environment, gender, racial equality and LGBTIQA+ rights, Kirli was the NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year (2020). In 2022, She received at OAM for her contribution to the arts and literature, her books include The Incredible Freedom Machines (Scholastic, 2018), Kindred (Magabala, 2019), Bindi (Magabala, 2020), Our Dreaming (Scholastic, 2022) and Returning (Magabala, 2023).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
June 21, 2021
Part of my reading of books with indigenous Australian languages in the text.
This is a breathtakingly beautiful children's book by the author of one of my favourite poetry collections Kindred.
This work uses the language of the Gundungurra, who's country is just to the north of Ngunawal where I'm writing this. They are slightly inland and their country includes some of the Blue Mountains behind Sydney and further inland from the Blue Mountains. Their country also borders, The Darug and I was interested to note the difference in language to describe different things. The words for fire, for example are very different.
Canbe (fire), is a frightening part of this story, but the story of resilience, once the fire has past is heartening.
This is the second work that I've looked through that has featured illustrations by Dub Leffler and I can't wait to see more of their strikingly beautiful work.
Highly recommended.
This is a breathtakingly beautiful children's book by the author of one of my favourite poetry collections Kindred.
This work uses the language of the Gundungurra, who's country is just to the north of Ngunawal where I'm writing this. They are slightly inland and their country includes some of the Blue Mountains behind Sydney and further inland from the Blue Mountains. Their country also borders, The Darug and I was interested to note the difference in language to describe different things. The words for fire, for example are very different.
Canbe (fire), is a frightening part of this story, but the story of resilience, once the fire has past is heartening.
This is the second work that I've looked through that has featured illustrations by Dub Leffler and I can't wait to see more of their strikingly beautiful work.
Highly recommended.
December 29, 2020
A simply stunning verse novel about caring for Country, family, friendship and community resilience after fire. Physically, this is a beautiful book - hardcover, appealing layout and beautiful illustrations.
January 22, 2021
I have to admit to not being a big fan of verse novels, but Bindi by Indigenous woman, Kirli Saunders is most definitely an exception. Written from the perspective of eleven-year-old Bindi in Gundungurra Country, it gives readers a slice of Bindi’s everyday including her love of hockey; art; her horse, Nell; bawa (the bush); and garrall (black cockatoo). When fire threatens Bindi’s home, their town and the land, the community comes together as one.
What I really loved about this book was the simplicity of language; the way the words spoke to the reader:
"And for a moment,
I forget
that Mum was taken."
Written so simply and so beautifully, the words in this story speak of more than just themselves. Beautifully illustrated by Dub Leffler, one of Australia’s most sought after Indigenous illustrators of children’s literature, Bindi is a book you will treasure. A glossary at the back of the book was a big plus for me. Highly recommended reading.
What I really loved about this book was the simplicity of language; the way the words spoke to the reader:
"And for a moment,
I forget
that Mum was taken."
Written so simply and so beautifully, the words in this story speak of more than just themselves. Beautifully illustrated by Dub Leffler, one of Australia’s most sought after Indigenous illustrators of children’s literature, Bindi is a book you will treasure. A glossary at the back of the book was a big plus for me. Highly recommended reading.
October 23, 2021
I love verse novels, but this has to be one of my favourites. This moving story follows the year in the life of 11 year old Bindi as she experiences some beautifully high highs and some tragic, terrifying lows. It’s a touching story about caring for Country, the importance of listening and learning, of family, of brokenness, of loss and, ultimately, of perseverance. The inclusion of Gundungurra throughout was effective and seamless, and the illustrations by Deb Leffler are absolutely beautiful.
January 31, 2022
A beautiful story told in prose about 11-year-old Bindi’s experiences of living through a terrible bushfire season and the healing power of community in Gundungurra Country in southeast NSW. The book uses Gundungurra words and phrases to authentically share Bindi’s family’s experiences and is a very accessible read. This is a fantastic and engaging poetic novel for upper primary and lower secondary students.
February 3, 2021
Bindi is a gorgeous, beautifully written novel by author and poet Kirli Saunders. It’s a middle grade book, but all ages will love it, and I know I’ll read it again, just for the beauty of the language – there were quite a few passages I highlighted. Dedicated to those who plant trees, it’s about a young girl called Bindi, who lives on Gundungurra Country in south-eastern NSW with her parents and siblings, and reflects her relationships with her family, school friends, horse, art, the land and mother earth, and her connection to it all. It covers the time of last summer’s devastating bushfires, which is hauntingly sad and touching, and yet she finds hope in ancient wisdom (as we all should). There’s also a lovely section where, just after breaking her arm, Bindi finds an injured baby black cockatoo (garrall), the sacred totem of her people, and the way they grow and heal together is beautiful.
Kirli says: “I wrote Bindi as a call to action for young people to understand their role in conservation and caring for Country. I want them to recognise their role as Custodians of this land…” The book is also important because it includes Gundungurra words woven into the story, which adds an extra richness and depth. Kirli was named the 2020 NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year for her work with First Nations language revitalisation – she developed the Poetry in First Languages program, which celebrates, shares and preserves knowledge of First Nations languages and culture through poetry, music, dance and art. (She’s also won several other awards, writes poetry, plays and books, is a teacher, cultural consultant and artist – and is a beautiful singer too! She’s so multi-talented!)
Kirli says: “I wrote Bindi as a call to action for young people to understand their role in conservation and caring for Country. I want them to recognise their role as Custodians of this land…” The book is also important because it includes Gundungurra words woven into the story, which adds an extra richness and depth. Kirli was named the 2020 NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year for her work with First Nations language revitalisation – she developed the Poetry in First Languages program, which celebrates, shares and preserves knowledge of First Nations languages and culture through poetry, music, dance and art. (She’s also won several other awards, writes poetry, plays and books, is a teacher, cultural consultant and artist – and is a beautiful singer too! She’s so multi-talented!)
August 1, 2021
Brilliant verse novel for school kids and adults alike, speaking to the importance of concept healing country. And a beautifully produced hard-cover book.
July 19, 2021
Bindi’s experiences at school, her community, in life and bushfires form the basis of this story.
The story is presented as a verse novel, and this is striking. The story is captivating and light to read. It is amazing how so few words convey the characters and the setting so intensely.
I thoroughly enjoyed the style and the stories.
Recommended for all read 8+ to adults.
The story is presented as a verse novel, and this is striking. The story is captivating and light to read. It is amazing how so few words convey the characters and the setting so intensely.
I thoroughly enjoyed the style and the stories.
Recommended for all read 8+ to adults.
Read
January 17, 2021This review was first published on the Underground Writers website, where you can also read an interview with the author and the illustrator: http://underground-writers.org/review...
To read and consume the verse novel Bindi is a gift—especially for children who will get the opportunity to share and learn from its contents. Kirli Saunders has created a book that is accessible to older children, delightful to read, and powerful in its capacity to encapsulate the reality of bushfire damage on Australian communities within a children’s verse novel. Bindi follows the life of an eleven-year-old girl, Bindi, who lives on Gundungurra Country and witnesses the power and devastation that bushfires cause all while playing hockey and having fun with her friends and family. While Bindi tackles such a real and prominent topic for many Australians it is not an arduous text, but rather an opportunity to understand and learn from life-changing events.
What Bindi ensures is that after there is fire, there is hope for the future. I particularly enjoyed reading about the shared belonging that arises in a community in times of crisis. I believe that Saunders’ touches home for many readers in the creation of Bindi. The fires are a reminder of a reality that Australia witnessed not even twelve months ago. A reality that reappears each summer across the country.
we wait
like the houses
that many of us may not return to
But the verse novel isn’t doom-and-gloom—it is a possibility for change in our age of climate crisis. The three subtitles are: Seedlings, Cinders, and Sprouts—a clear and beautiful homage to the cycle of life, death, and rebirth that uncovers through bushfire damage. Along with the subtitles which emphasise the imagery of firecomes the beautiful charcoal drawings of Dub Leffler. The poetic language of Saunders coupled with Leffler’s illustrations makes for a visually stunning book. Three of the most significant drawings match with the subtitles to create a simplistic yet effective image of the same plant through the cycle of bushfire damage and rebirth. The devastation brought on by fire that children read in ‘Cinders’ flows naturally into ‘Sprouts’, which is where Saunders instills courage and agency into the children who read Bindi. Saunders herself hopes that the text will help children to “understand their responsibility in caring for Country and feeling equipped or more aware on how to do that.” The children who read this book are our country’s future leaders, and what a remarkable way to encourage a dialogue for children to learn about land, preservation, and the environment.
Another marker of the brilliance of Bindi is that it is written in both Gundungurra Language and English. This inclusion of both languages is fluid due to neither language being bracketed or footnoted. This is a deliberate choice by Saunders who is interested in “decolonising the publishing framework and understanding the right way to publish language.” The glossary at the back of the book is a learning tool for children to understand what each Gundungurra word means and how to properly pronounce it. Bindi is a safe and educational text which encourages learning of Language and caring for the environment for both First Nations children and non-First Nations children. I hope that all schools will include Bindi in their curriculum as it is a beautiful way to start a dialogue with children about caring for Australia during our climate change crisis and looking forward into the future for ways to prevent fires.
To read and consume the verse novel Bindi is a gift—especially for children who will get the opportunity to share and learn from its contents. Kirli Saunders has created a book that is accessible to older children, delightful to read, and powerful in its capacity to encapsulate the reality of bushfire damage on Australian communities within a children’s verse novel. Bindi follows the life of an eleven-year-old girl, Bindi, who lives on Gundungurra Country and witnesses the power and devastation that bushfires cause all while playing hockey and having fun with her friends and family. While Bindi tackles such a real and prominent topic for many Australians it is not an arduous text, but rather an opportunity to understand and learn from life-changing events.
What Bindi ensures is that after there is fire, there is hope for the future. I particularly enjoyed reading about the shared belonging that arises in a community in times of crisis. I believe that Saunders’ touches home for many readers in the creation of Bindi. The fires are a reminder of a reality that Australia witnessed not even twelve months ago. A reality that reappears each summer across the country.
we wait
like the houses
that many of us may not return to
But the verse novel isn’t doom-and-gloom—it is a possibility for change in our age of climate crisis. The three subtitles are: Seedlings, Cinders, and Sprouts—a clear and beautiful homage to the cycle of life, death, and rebirth that uncovers through bushfire damage. Along with the subtitles which emphasise the imagery of firecomes the beautiful charcoal drawings of Dub Leffler. The poetic language of Saunders coupled with Leffler’s illustrations makes for a visually stunning book. Three of the most significant drawings match with the subtitles to create a simplistic yet effective image of the same plant through the cycle of bushfire damage and rebirth. The devastation brought on by fire that children read in ‘Cinders’ flows naturally into ‘Sprouts’, which is where Saunders instills courage and agency into the children who read Bindi. Saunders herself hopes that the text will help children to “understand their responsibility in caring for Country and feeling equipped or more aware on how to do that.” The children who read this book are our country’s future leaders, and what a remarkable way to encourage a dialogue for children to learn about land, preservation, and the environment.
Another marker of the brilliance of Bindi is that it is written in both Gundungurra Language and English. This inclusion of both languages is fluid due to neither language being bracketed or footnoted. This is a deliberate choice by Saunders who is interested in “decolonising the publishing framework and understanding the right way to publish language.” The glossary at the back of the book is a learning tool for children to understand what each Gundungurra word means and how to properly pronounce it. Bindi is a safe and educational text which encourages learning of Language and caring for the environment for both First Nations children and non-First Nations children. I hope that all schools will include Bindi in their curriculum as it is a beautiful way to start a dialogue with children about caring for Australia during our climate change crisis and looking forward into the future for ways to prevent fires.
June 13, 2025
A verse novel, incorporating Gundaungurra language. An excellent depiction of the life of an 11 year old girl, living through bushfires and exploring, learning and teaching about her culture. A must for school.
January 6, 2021
Kirli writes so beautifully about the earth and landscape. She has such spiritual connection to the garrall.
September 21, 2021
A wonderful book on so many levels! This will be a big favourite in Australian primary schools as it deals with friendship, family, connections to the land, overcoming tragedy, bushfires and caring for our animals. The language of the Gundungurra people is used and a helpful glossary is at the back of the book. I loved the modern day family descriptions and the way it was written in verse. It also fits in perfectly with the current Australian primary school History and Geography curriculum and I will be recommending it to students and teachers alike for many years to come! Highly recommended!
April 26, 2022
This verse novel for middle-grade readers is a story about everyday life, the aftermath of bushfires, and renewal. It tells the story of 11-year-old Bindi, a girl growing up on Gundungarra country. We learn about Bindi's family, her school, her hockey team and her horse, Nell. Bindi makes sense of her experience through her art and by nursing a baby black cockatoo. Kirli Saunders has woven Gundungarra language into this beautiful story, which immerses the reader in first nations language in a way that is highly accessible to young readers.
January 3, 2023
Delightful. I love a good verse novel and Kirli Saunders has done a fabulous job integrating Gundungurra language into her prose, with structure used creatively to bring her poetry alive. This honours our rich First Nations culture and community, especially in relation to the teachings of bushfire management.
December 11, 2023
Gostei muito!
Read
May 2, 2025Read for a children’s literature class
September 1, 2024
Had to read this for uni. Not my cup of tea. At all
March 18, 2021
This is a beautiful, moving story, told by 11-year-old, Bindi, living firmly in the 21st century and with an eye to the past and the future.
Although it is nominated and [publisher] designated as upper primary, it is suitable for all ages. The sublime writing cries out to be read aloud - "Afternoons built for/ drinks and dips in the dirty dam,/ for kicks and clicks/ as hooves paw at water/ and contemplate a roll/ on a rider - / the deepest of dangers." (Afternoon Rides, p. 8)
"Mum/Rosie/ is warm butter sliding down toast:/ she melts people/ with her kindness." (Fambam, p. 9).
Rhythm, soul, the beating heart of a country ravaged by overuse and under-management, and showing a way forward, utilising the skills and understanding of a culture that has cared for the daore for thousands of years.
Although it is nominated and [publisher] designated as upper primary, it is suitable for all ages. The sublime writing cries out to be read aloud - "Afternoons built for/ drinks and dips in the dirty dam,/ for kicks and clicks/ as hooves paw at water/ and contemplate a roll/ on a rider - / the deepest of dangers." (Afternoon Rides, p. 8)
"Mum/Rosie/ is warm butter sliding down toast:/ she melts people/ with her kindness." (Fambam, p. 9).
Dad taught us
these tracks
and we know 'em
like the backs
of our hands
and he
likes to test
our facts
sometimes
by playing his favourite game
it goes like this:
he walks us to a clearing
between the darrambyang
looks at the bunyal
and his watch
and gives a time
that we must be home by
and then he leaves...
Rhythm, soul, the beating heart of a country ravaged by overuse and under-management, and showing a way forward, utilising the skills and understanding of a culture that has cared for the daore for thousands of years.
December 26, 2020
So many coincidences led me to the moment where I got to sit on my bed and read this beautiful verse novel.
Bindi is 11 and her story explores the ordinary moments of a girl - her school days, her family, her history - and the very real and relatable experience of Australia in a dry and dangerous summer.
A class set of this book will be joining my ever growing and always improving book room collection first thing back at school in 2021. It is that good.
As Saunders is a Bowral alumni, it will be my honour and privilege to introduce our students to her work through this beautiful volume. Very highly recommended for lovers of poetry, bird lovers, lovers of the Australian landscape and readers of all ages. A joy to read.
Bindi is 11 and her story explores the ordinary moments of a girl - her school days, her family, her history - and the very real and relatable experience of Australia in a dry and dangerous summer.
A class set of this book will be joining my ever growing and always improving book room collection first thing back at school in 2021. It is that good.
As Saunders is a Bowral alumni, it will be my honour and privilege to introduce our students to her work through this beautiful volume. Very highly recommended for lovers of poetry, bird lovers, lovers of the Australian landscape and readers of all ages. A joy to read.
April 6, 2021
Well this was just an absolute pleasure to read. It's a short book, but it packs a punch.
I particularly enjoyed the way that the words flowed across the page, and how they were designed to add impact to the message Saunders was conveying. This gorgeous book explores nature, the heritage and culture of Indigenous Australians, climate change, bushfires, art, and so, so much more. Definitely a verse novel all young Australians (and others international!) should be reading, and one I will be recommending often!
I particularly enjoyed the way that the words flowed across the page, and how they were designed to add impact to the message Saunders was conveying. This gorgeous book explores nature, the heritage and culture of Indigenous Australians, climate change, bushfires, art, and so, so much more. Definitely a verse novel all young Australians (and others international!) should be reading, and one I will be recommending often!
January 3, 2021
Easy to read prose that flows so easily. An enlightening story told from a young perspective. As the story unfolds the imagery is vivid and littered with little surprises along the way. The use of Gundungurra words is beautiful and adds another layer to the poetry.
October 5, 2020
A fantastic middle grade verse novel about surviving bush fires and returning to the traditional care for country of the First Nations peoples.
June 30, 2021
A beautifully presented book that presents a snapshot of life for Bindi as she starts the school year. Life at home and school encompass both learning the curriculum and learning abut heritage and ountry. Bindi's affinity with the land and nature is balanced with pursuits popular with young people regardless of race - horse riding, playing hockey, family get togethers etc. When the township is threatened, then consumed by a devastating fire the community pulls together. This provides an opportunity to introduce indigenous land care practices as well as presenting a personal account of an experience many young Australians have lived through in recent times.
Gundungurra words are woven through the narrative, and may slightly disrupt the reading flow at first, but many are repeated and self-explanatory, and all are and a word list of meanings (and pronunciations) provided at the end. Saunders presents a strong First Nation's voice through her character, as weaving her heritage within contemporary practices and learning at school. The author, acknowledges the guidance of Gunai elders in crafting this story that explores the importance of family, country and living with and nurturing the land.
The book is told in verse - poetic prose - beautifully crafted in free and highly evocative language to capture hearts and minds. The text is also carefully space for emphasis in places that break up the presentation and add meaning. The most notable and highly effective layout of Bindi fall from her horse is creative and excessive. The illustrations by Dub Leffler are superb, charcoal representations of the natural world, and the bindi plant, that survives and flourishes in harsh conditions - just like our protagonist. The overall design if the book is excellent - hard smooth cover, symbolic cover design with the bindi plant and bird feather and embossed title and author labels, text layout, positioning of the illustrations work seamlessly to create a polished high quality book.
A worthy inclusion on the 2021 CBCA shortlist for Book of the Year: Younger Reader.
Gundungurra words are woven through the narrative, and may slightly disrupt the reading flow at first, but many are repeated and self-explanatory, and all are and a word list of meanings (and pronunciations) provided at the end. Saunders presents a strong First Nation's voice through her character, as weaving her heritage within contemporary practices and learning at school. The author, acknowledges the guidance of Gunai elders in crafting this story that explores the importance of family, country and living with and nurturing the land.
The book is told in verse - poetic prose - beautifully crafted in free and highly evocative language to capture hearts and minds. The text is also carefully space for emphasis in places that break up the presentation and add meaning. The most notable and highly effective layout of Bindi fall from her horse is creative and excessive. The illustrations by Dub Leffler are superb, charcoal representations of the natural world, and the bindi plant, that survives and flourishes in harsh conditions - just like our protagonist. The overall design if the book is excellent - hard smooth cover, symbolic cover design with the bindi plant and bird feather and embossed title and author labels, text layout, positioning of the illustrations work seamlessly to create a polished high quality book.
A worthy inclusion on the 2021 CBCA shortlist for Book of the Year: Younger Reader.
May 15, 2021
The simple prose of this story shepherds the reader into the life of protagonist, 11-year-old ‘Bindi’ on Gundungurra Country. The language is powerful and evocative, using rhythm and verse to shape the story. Indigenous author Kirli Saunders and illustrator Dub Leffler weave in unison a beautiful story of a young girl’s connection to country, family and community. Bindi is portrayed as a young girl who loves her horse, her friends, playing hockey, and art class. The uncomplicated portrayal of Bindi’s life is intertwined with darker and more complex themes in Australia’s history. Saunders subtly creates moments of reflection on the enduring heartache of the stolen generation with raw and honest words ‘Once they told us we’d die out too.’ (pg.63) The looming bushfire disaster that unfolds across Gundungurra Country is a reminder of our how we have neglected our relationship with the land ‘she has been living unloved for too long’. (pg. 78) The story provides an insight into the hurt of our first people and the threat to our environment. It is about conservation and reconciliation. I have to admit to initially finding the Gundungurra words distracting from the rhythm of the prose however after persevering using the books word list, the language truly heightened the flow and pace of the story – itself revealing that time and persistence are critical in understanding difficult words and ideas. This is a beautiful story with a gentle, but strong voice told through the adventures of an uncomplicated girl who opens our eyes to the voice of her people and the planet.
August 8, 2021
I read this as part of my quest to read all of the Children's Book Council younger readers shortlisted books.
Can I just say that this years crop of books are exceptional, including Bindi.
Occasionally I come across a book that really makes me want to go back to teaching. Bindi is one such book.
Books written in verse for children is one of my favourite formats. Books in verse become so accessible to so many children. They are less intimidating than a chapter book for children who struggle with reading, yet are just as capable of providing a deeply engaging story and exquisite language. It shows children there is more than one way to tell a story and provide amazing opportunities for discussion.
The story is told by 11 year old Bindi who lives on Gundungurra Country. The Gundungurra language is woven throughout the story and although there is a glossary at the back of the book, there is no definition of the words within the text. I love this as it encourages children to engage fully with the text and use the surrounding language to interpret what Bindi is talking about. For me it would provide such a rich learning experience, showing the importance of context and structure to help you find meaning. On top of that, it is a beautiful story of family, friendship, learning from others and caring for country.
Can I just say that this years crop of books are exceptional, including Bindi.
Occasionally I come across a book that really makes me want to go back to teaching. Bindi is one such book.
Books written in verse for children is one of my favourite formats. Books in verse become so accessible to so many children. They are less intimidating than a chapter book for children who struggle with reading, yet are just as capable of providing a deeply engaging story and exquisite language. It shows children there is more than one way to tell a story and provide amazing opportunities for discussion.
The story is told by 11 year old Bindi who lives on Gundungurra Country. The Gundungurra language is woven throughout the story and although there is a glossary at the back of the book, there is no definition of the words within the text. I love this as it encourages children to engage fully with the text and use the surrounding language to interpret what Bindi is talking about. For me it would provide such a rich learning experience, showing the importance of context and structure to help you find meaning. On top of that, it is a beautiful story of family, friendship, learning from others and caring for country.
September 18, 2021
To me, this is a perfect book. The message, the words, the illustrations, the design, the feel of the paper and the hardback cover. I had to refer to the glossary at the back for the words in Gundaungurra language but they make it more interesting.
I like verse novels (see also Steven Herrick) and I can't figure out how the authors know where to break a sentence up, but somehow it works and it wouldn't be the same if it was set out on the page with sentences and paragraphs.
This book has won so many well-deserved awards. It says it's for mid-upper primary students but I would say 'and up to 110 years'. It also says it's written 'for those who plant trees' so that's me.
I found it by chance browsing in the Yass library on the one day they were out of lockdown.
I like verse novels (see also Steven Herrick) and I can't figure out how the authors know where to break a sentence up, but somehow it works and it wouldn't be the same if it was set out on the page with sentences and paragraphs.
This book has won so many well-deserved awards. It says it's for mid-upper primary students but I would say 'and up to 110 years'. It also says it's written 'for those who plant trees' so that's me.
I found it by chance browsing in the Yass library on the one day they were out of lockdown.
June 25, 2021
An absolute delight to read with much to enjoy and learn. Magabala Publishing House is doing such a great job in publishing books which spread the experiences and expertise of First Nations Communities. Kirli’s writing paints the joyful journey of 11 year old Bindi with family, sport and school against the tragedy of a massive bushfire. I love verse novels and felt the presentation of writing adjoined with Dub Leffler’s detailed illustrations places you right there with Bindi as she traverses life.
August 29, 2021
This is the 2nd or 3rd junior fiction verse novel I have read and I really enjoyed it. The story is written from the perspective of an 11-year old girl going about her days at school and home during bushfire season. I could picture every scene and even imagine the smells and textures of the things described. I felt that the inclusion of Gundugurra words also added to the importance of the message within the story. It’s superbly written and would be a great pick for avid upper primary readers who want something a little different than the typical chapter book to read.
February 18, 2023
REVIEW FOR FUTURE ME WHEN I FORGET THAT I EVEN READ THIS BOOK:
This was our class novel study unit. The kids all needed their own copy, and I don’t think this would work well as a read aloud text. Beautifully written, beautifully illustrated. I think this text will hold far more appeal to adults than upper primary students. The subtleties of free verse were difficult for students to observe. The Gundungurra language woven throughout the text was most enjoyed, and searching up the new words in the glossary afforded a high level of engagement in the text.
This was our class novel study unit. The kids all needed their own copy, and I don’t think this would work well as a read aloud text. Beautifully written, beautifully illustrated. I think this text will hold far more appeal to adults than upper primary students. The subtleties of free verse were difficult for students to observe. The Gundungurra language woven throughout the text was most enjoyed, and searching up the new words in the glossary afforded a high level of engagement in the text.
August 13, 2021
This book immerses the reader into the world of a young girl, Bindi, living in a community experiencing a horrific bushfire in rural Australia. It refers to past and present events that signify the resilience of indigenous Australians, using indigenous words for emphasis. Bindi learns what community really means and how to care for bushfire prone environments, and you are invested in her wellbeing as disaster strikes. The language in this book makes it accessible to many reading levels.
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