Dreamtime : Aboriginal Stories

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Australian Aboriginal author Oodgeroo capably recounts 27 stories, some based on her childhood, some on Dreamtime myths. Accounts of children going hunting, of Oodgeroo struggling with her teachers over her lefthandedness, and of her parents' resourcefulness and principles balance legends of the creation of the world by the rainbow serpent and explanations of custom. Fresh, intricately patterned illustrations recall traditional Aboriginal painting but also incorporate abstracted figures in solid black; the artist, incidentally, is also Aboriginal. Although the stories trail off, ending with several less interesting entries about trees, this generous collection provides a fascinating and personal introduction to Aboriginal culture. Ages 8-up. (Aug.)

Children's Literature - Dr. Judy Rowen

The first segment of this book consists of tales from the author's childhood on Stradbroke Island. Some of the stories are humorous, but many are poignant glimpses into a world that is quickly vanishing - Stradbroke Island has been ecologically decimated and the aboriginal way of life is quickly waning. The second portion recounts aboriginal myths, both original and those of the author's creation. There are many allusions to these myths in the first collection of stories, and they may have been better served if they were interwoven rather than separated. The tales are illustrated with colorful graphics that draw heavily on aboriginal symbols and artistic traditions; the illustrations are echoed in bright borders that continue on each page of text.

Children's Literature

This book contains two parts. "Stories from Stradbroke" draws from episodes in the author's childhood while living on Stradbroke Island off the Queensland coast of Australia. "Stories from the Old and New Dreamtime" are the author's recollections of tales of Aboriginal folklore and some new tales written in traditional Aboriginal forms. Tales of creation, passage to adulthood, and animals are featured. The illustrations are many and vivid.

School Library Journal

Gr 2-6-In this new edition of Stradbroke Dreamtime (Merrimack, 1986; o.p.), the author uses the name that reflects her Aboriginal heritage rather than her English name, Kath Walker. The book also features new illustrations by an Aboriginal artist. The first half relates stories from the author's childhood on an island off the coast of Queensland; the second section contains stories from folklore and mythology. The tales are all one to two pages long. The vividly colored artwork is based solidly on Aboriginal style: pointillist patterns, parallel lines, and mazelike designs. The number of pictures and a more pleasing page layout increase the length of this edition by about one-third and make the selections more accessible to children. An eye-catching, attractive purchase.-Jeanette Larson, Texas State Library, Austin

Janice Del Negro

A combination of traditional and autobiographical tales, this title is divided into two sections. "Stories from Stradbroke" comprises family stories from the author's life on Stradbroke Island off the Queensland coast and reflects the hardships and joys of Aboriginal living under encroaching white civilization. The second section is called "Stories from the Old and New Dreamtime" and includes traditional stories recalled by the author from her youth as well as some new stories written in the traditional format. The illustrator's background as a textile designer is reflected in the bold geometrics, silhouettes, and colors that are present throughout the book. Biographical sketches on both the author (a well-known poet and political activist for Aboriginal rights) and the illustrator reflect their Aboriginal roots, giving insight into their culture and world view. Although this has the look of a picture book, both art and stories are quite sophisticated; the target audience for this is definitely older, perhaps even to high school.