Walking the Rock Country in Kakadu

Walking The Rock Country in Kakadu

by Diane Lucas, Ben Taylor

Illustrated by Emma Long

Published by Allen and Unwin
ISBN 9781761067860

Introducing Kundjeyhmi language, one of the Bininj Kunwok languages of Kakadu and western Arnhem Lands to ages 5 - 10, follow the story walking along the rock country.

There are many things to look for amongst the colourful illustrations that bring the stories to life. It is a particularly interesting picture book, as we tend to think of picture books for younger children, but this is quite different. Each double page has a story down the side of one page, with help to translate language with additional small drawings and captions within the text.

Ben Tyler and Diane Lucas share stories, knowledge and the love of the land as readers walk through one of Australia's most ancient ecosystems during yoke, early dry season. The information is is interesting, fascinating, brimming with life as we are guided along the way, helped with the inclusion of the glossary.

t's yekke, early dry season. Kundenge karrire kunwarddehwardde. Let's walk the rock country. Wardi karribolknan, let's see what we can see in Gagudju, Kakadu.

In these 34 pages there is so much to discover about this ancient land, perfect for this age group and beyond.

The Authors

Diane Lucas grew up exploring the bush in New South Wales and moved to Kakadu in her late twenties. There she worked as a schoolteacher on an Aboriginal outstation and in turn was taught many things about the bush. From 1991 to 1996, Diane worked on a research project in Kakadu, documenting traditional resources on the South Alligator River floodplain and surrounds. She was encouraged by the elders to write about the land and get stories to children. They have supported her efforts as an educator with her children's books, the first being Walking with the Seasons in Kakadu. Since then she has had seven other publications. She now lives only two hours from Kakadu, with her husband, and maintains a close relationship with the people and country of Kakadu. She and her husband travel in northern Australia and Africa doing botanical and fire ecology work. Diane is inspired by wild landscapes and the cultural context of these places, and the way children explore and play in wild habitats with such ease. She does much of her writing as she travels and walks in the bush.

Ben Tyler is a Bininj entrepreneur and founder of bush food brand Kakadu Kitchen. He currently lives in Darwin on Larrakia country, studying business at Charles Darwin University. On his breaks he returns home to Kakadu to visit his mum and family at their remote family outstation at Patonga Homestead, located beside the Jim Jim Creek in Kakadu National Park. The community includes close relatives from Tiwi Islands and has always been a place that welcomes family, friends and visitors into their busy, noisy, joyful billabong home in Kakadu.

The illustrator

Emma Long is n accomplished artist, who was shortlisted in the 2022 CBCA Award for New Illustrator for Walking in Gagudju Country: Exploring the Monsoon Forest, Emma Long has exhibited regularly in group and solo exhibitions across the Northern Territory. With a passion for creative arts has led them to work as an art educator in secondary schools as well as pursue a Bachelor of Visual Arts, a Certificate in Printmaking and a Graduate Diploma of Education. Enna us inspired by the fresh, raw beauty of nature and feel most at home in the bush with a brush in hand and lives in Darwin with husband and four children and continues to work as an illustrator and an art educator.

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