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Tom Tom
An honour book and shortlisted title in the CBC Early Childhood book of the Year Awards 2009.
Tom Tom is an engaging contemporary story that traces a day in the life of a small boy living in a typical Aboriginal community in the Top End of the Northern Territory. It follows the adventures of Tom Tom as he goes to preschool, eats lunch with Granny Annie in the bottom camp, swims in the Lemonade Springs in the afternoon and spends the night with Granny May and grandfather Jo in the top camp.
Rosemary Sullivan's simple text and Dee Huxley's vivid illustrations captures the warmth and security of Tom Tom's world as he moves freely within his community from relative to another.
As a pre-school teacher working in remote Aboriginal communities for more than 17 years, Rosemary Sullivan says: 'Tom Tom was inspired by the lives of many indigenous children in the Top End and the importance of family and interconnectedness in Aboriginal life.'
Tom Tom is an engaging contemporary story that traces a day in the life of a small boy living in a typical Aboriginal community in the Top End of the Northern Territory. It follows the adventures of Tom Tom as he goes to preschool, eats lunch with Granny Annie in the bottom camp, swims in the Lemonade Springs in the afternoon and spends the night with Granny May and grandfather Jo in the top camp.
Rosemary Sullivan's simple text and Dee Huxley's vivid illustrations captures the warmth and security of Tom Tom's world as he moves freely within his community from relative to another.
As a pre-school teacher working in remote Aboriginal communities for more than 17 years, Rosemary Sullivan says: 'Tom Tom was inspired by the lives of many indigenous children in the Top End and the importance of family and interconnectedness in Aboriginal life.'
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
39 people want to read
About the author
Rosemary Sullivan
44 books202 followersRosemary Sullivan is a Canadian poet, biographer, and anthologist. She is also a professor emerita at University of Toronto.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 11, 2009
A delightfully engaging day-in-the-life of a preschool aged boy in a remote Aboriginal community.
Most of the picture books featuring Aboriginal themes concentrate on capturing oral history, then publishing it in picture book form. I find these books often lack critical context that makes the oral history so powerful. This book differs in that it attempts to capture what life is like in a remote Aboriginal community today.
Over the last few years remote Aboriginal communities have hit the media spotlight for all the wrong reasons - and yet the vast majority of Australians would have very little idea what it would be like to actually live in one. While there is much work to be done to "close the gap" (in life expectancy, educational outcomes, etc, etc) it is lovely to see a representation of one of these communities that focusses on the positives - through the innocent eyes of an (un-stolen! or molested!) preschooler.
Most of the picture books featuring Aboriginal themes concentrate on capturing oral history, then publishing it in picture book form. I find these books often lack critical context that makes the oral history so powerful. This book differs in that it attempts to capture what life is like in a remote Aboriginal community today.
Over the last few years remote Aboriginal communities have hit the media spotlight for all the wrong reasons - and yet the vast majority of Australians would have very little idea what it would be like to actually live in one. While there is much work to be done to "close the gap" (in life expectancy, educational outcomes, etc, etc) it is lovely to see a representation of one of these communities that focusses on the positives - through the innocent eyes of an (un-stolen! or molested!) preschooler.
June 5, 2020
A gorgeous book, from start to finish.
September 20, 2019
My 4year old's favorite book for a few weeks.
September 10, 2020
Ages 4 and up. The everyday life of an Aboriginal preschool child called Tom Tom by his large, extended family in modern Australia. Beautifully illustrated.
July 31, 2011
CBA nominated book 2009, about Tom Tom who lives with his family in the NT. This picture book describes his life with his extended family and friends, as he goes to school and plays at Lemonade Springs. Nice story but i feel that the story lacks some resolution.
March 20, 2012
Such a big family. Grade 1-2.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews