AustLit
Latest Issues
Notes
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indexing in process
Contents
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Know the Author: Christobel Mattingly,
single work
column
Christobel Mattingley 'was born on the Kaurnu Dreaming trail' and lived in the Adelaide plains until she was eight. (4). While she didn't realize at the time that this was 'a significant trail for the Kaurnu people who are the traditional custodians of the land', she attributes the 'geneisis of what she writes now' to 'things in my childhood that went right down to my subconscious' (4). Mayor Cox discusses Mattingley's early childhood and the nascent beginnings of her 'long and profound involvement with Australia's publishing industry' (4) as well as referring to a number of Mattingley's popluar publications and the responses they draw from readers. This includes Maralinga: The Anangu Story, The Miracle Tree, No guns for Asmir and the collection of Nunga stories entitled Survival in Our Own Land which she co-edited with Ken Hampton. There is also a 'fact box' which includes information on Mattingley's academic background, literary prizes and personal achievements
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Spreading the Seeds : Australian Indigenous Publishing for Young People,
single work
essay
Sheahan-Bright explores '...the growth in publishing by Indigenous writers and publishers, and of writing on Indigenous cultural themes, and some of the issues which confront publishers when dealing with Indigenous writers and illustrators' (8). The article begins with some background, and points out that despite a cultural and artistic heritage that dates back thousands of years, Indigenous writing and publishing has not been widely recognised in mainstream Australian until most recently and Sheahan-Bright says "This is despite their having been engaged in colonial conflict and later subject to the...assimilation policies which discouraged involvement with European notions of literacy" (8). She discusses the origins of the Indigenous publishing houses Aboriginal Studies Press (ASP), Institute of Aboriginal Development (IAD Press), Magabala Books, Keeaira Press, Black Ink Press, Indij Readers and briefly refers to the above mentioned texts in the section entitled 'what's being published'. This leads into a summary of the five main issues in relation to Indigenous publishing and the 'need for authenticity in writing about Indigenous peoples and culture' (11). Sheahan-Bright lists these issues as 'respect for country and Indigenous control of material', relevance of copyright issues, lack of understanding from non-Indigenous Australians, the need to consider 'protocol, specific authority, appropriation' and finally, to develop an awareness of the social factors that contribute to the socially and economically disadvantaged position of the majority of Indigenous Australians. She argues that 'knowledge of Indigenous culture is a genuine part of Australian culture ...and the publishing output should reflect that' (12). However, she concludes that while 'there has been growth in publishing Indigenous voices in English', in general, 'there are many miles still to be travelled and many seeds still to be sown' (12)
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Cover Book Review,
single work
review
— Review of Captain Crabclaw's Crew 2009 single work picture book ;Nola Allen describes Frances Watts picture book Captain Crabclaw's Crew as 'an entertaining, light-hearted, read-aloud' that 'invites participation, creates anticipation, provides opportunities for conversation and concludes with a comforting and satisfying resolution' (16). Allen says the story is further enhanced by David Legge's ink illustrations, which not only contain 'clues' to the story in the detailed pictures but 'add an element of pathos' to an essentially humorous and fun story(16). -
[Untitled],
single work
review
— Review of My Baby Love 2008 single work picture book ; (p. 26) Section: Before School -
[Review] See Me Move,
single work
review
— Review of See Me Move 2009 single work picture book ; (p. 26) Section: Before School -
[Review] Where's My Mum? : A Lift-the-Flap Book about Australian Birds,
single work
review
— Review of Where's My Mum? : A Lift-the-Flap Book about Australian Birds 2009 single work picture book ; (p. 27) Section: Before School -
[Review] Jasper McFlea Will Not Eat His Tea,
single work
review
— Review of Jasper McFlea Will Not Eat His Tea 2009 single work picture book ; (p. 27) Section: Before School -
[Untitled],
single work
review
— Review of I Only Like Toast 2008 single work picture book ; (p. 27) Section: Before School -
[Review] This Is The Mud!,
single work
review
— Review of This Is The Mud! 2009 single work picture book ; (p. 27-28) Section: Before School -
[Review] Mummies Are Amazing,
single work
review
— Review of Mummies Are Amazing 2009 single work picture book ; (p. 28) Section: Before School -
[Review] Our Daft Dog Danny,
single work
review
— Review of Our Daft Dog Danny 2009 single work picture book ; (p. 29) Section: Before School -
[Review] Crocodile River,
single work
review
— Review of Crocodile River 2009 single work picture book ; (p. 29) Section: Before School -
[Review] I'm Green and I'm Grumpy,
single work
review
— Review of I'm Green and I'm Grumpy 1993 single work picture book ; (p. 29) Section: Before School -
[Review] Monsters Are Knocking,
single work
review
— Review of Monsters are Knocking 1993 single work picture book ; (p. 29) Section: Before School -
[Review] Chook Shed Snake,
single work
review
— Review of Chook Shed Snake 2009 single work children's fiction ; (p. 30) Section: Beginner Readers -
[Review] The Wombat and the Grand Poohjam,
single work
review
— Review of The Wombat and the Grand Poohjam 2009 single work children's fiction ; (p. 30) Section: Beginner Readers -
[Review] The Smartest Dog of All,
single work
review
— Review of The Smartest Dog of All 2009 single work children's fiction ; (p. 30) Section: Beginner Readers -
[Review] Thorpey,
single work
review
— Review of Thorpey 2009 single work children's fiction ; (p. 30) Section: Beginner Readers -
[Review] The Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas,
single work
review
— Review of The Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas 2009 single work picture book ; (p. 30) Section: Beginner Readers -
[Review] How Big Is Big?,
single work
review
— Review of How Big is Big? 2009 single work picture book ; (p. 30) Section: Beginner Readers