4 Bardi Counting Book Review

Oct 24, 2008 12:42

Review 4: Bardi Counting Book by Lucy Wiidagoo Dann

This is a children's counting book in the Bardi language. Bardi people live on One Arm Point on the Dampier Peninsula in Western Australia.

It is a nicely illustrated children's book. The illustrations are done by Francine Ngardarb Riches. I read it to my four and a half month old baby and she particularly liked the first page showing one blue whale as it is a nice, clear picture with sharp contrasts. She was also impressed by the three saltwater crocs, as I made the page turn into a croc that nom-nom-nomed her.

At first I found the choice of a counting book odd, given that the introduction states that Bardi people count one-two-three-many. But the next paragraph added that part of the purpose of the book is to familiarise Bardi children with counting, as well as offering non-Bardi a little slice of Bardi vocabulary and art.

This children's book was produced by Uupababa books. The word is Karajarri for 'little kids'. I found it in a bookshop in the Kimberley and I've never seen books in this series in mainstream bookshops. However, faffing around on the internet I found that it is available from the National Indigenous Times shop - http://www.nit.com.au/shop/

(delicious), children's books, aboriginal, art

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