Tell 'em! by Katrina Germein, Rosemary Sullivan with the children of Manyallaluk School
Illus. by Karen Briggs. Working Title Press, 2020. ISBN:
9781921504921. 32pp., hbk.
It starts with a little girl answering a question asked by an unseen
asker - "I know what you should tell 'em " - and, apparently
prompted by that unseen asker asking "what else?", continues with a
joyous celebration of the lives of the children as they share the
activities of their community and country. And even though the
children of this remote community live about an hour east of
Katherine, NT much of what they do and enjoy is very similar to what
all children enjoy because kids are kids, everywhere.
Tell 'em how us kids like to play.
We got bikes and give each other rides.
Tell 'em about the dancing and singing,
And all the stories the old people know.
Yes, there are things that may be unfamiliar like the buffalo and
the crocodiles - "just freshwater ones" - and maybe families hunting
for bush turkey, goanna and kangaroo for dinner might not be the
norm for city kids but dancing and listening to stories and hunting
for phone reception will all resonate.
But what threads through this achingly beautiful picture book apart
from those similarities is the sheer delight and joy that these
children have in their lives, the respect they have for their elders
and their country and their understanding of the intertwining of the
past, present and future.
I wonder what the children in our communities would share if they
were asked the same question!
Maybe the first step could be figuring out the question these
children were asked, and then given that most were so keen to get
back to school after their enforced weeks at home, build a class
response that helps them focus on why!
A stunning, exuberant joyful celebration of being a child that has
to make you smile.
Barbara Braxton