Giinagay Juluum: Hello Mountains by Melissa Greenwood

Gumbaynggirr artist, writer and designer Melissa Greenwood has added a fifth book to her beautiful series for younger readers. The gorgeous cover in a soft palette of greens and apricots on a black background draw the eye to this lyrical and gentle narrative.

Aunty and child wake to the day and go on a walk through the bush at the base of the juluum (mountain). They pay their respects to Country around them as they walk and notice changes and movement – the fresh green growth on the jaliigirrin (trees), the bindarray (river)rises and falls, the creatures who live at the base of the juluum and the animals that live in the bush. As they ascend the juluum they see smoke signals to the meeting place at the tip and prepare for a corroboree. Aunty shares stories of creation and how juluum watches over them.

The colourful full page illustrations throughout provide a stunning visual backdrop for the words. Giinagay Juluum is a delightful book to read aloud and has an important dual language aspect with a complete Gumbaynggirr translation included in the final pages.

Themes: First Nation’s Stories, Country, Mountains, Family, Respect, Dual Language.

Kathryn Beilby