|  Jane Christophersen, illustrated by Christine Christophersen,
My Home in Kakadu
Magabala Books, 2005
Ages 5-7
Flying foxes, which eat fruit and nectar so are sweet to eat; long-necked turtles dug out of the mud; water-lily stems that taste like celery; long yams and water yams; not to mention all the kinds of fish: these are some of the exotic 'bush tucker' (native Australian food) Tarrah and her family enjoy on week-end camping trips in the Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, that is also their home. The author, Jane Christophersen's narrator, Tarrah, is her grand-daughter; and the book's illustrator is her daughter Christine, so this is definitely a family project - and family is what this book is all about. Tarrah's grandmothers are both clan elders. They teach their grandchildren not only the 'language names' for plants and animals, but also how to recognise their tracks and calls. Meanwhile, Tarrah's father teaches the children about animal smells: important for keeping your eyes - or nose - open for crocodiles; and both her parents show them the different ways to cook what they have hunted and gathered.
Tarrah describes what her life is like, mostly through the wildlife around her and what she and her family catch to eat out in the bush. She also talks about the seasons and there is a note at the end describing the six Aboriginal seasons of Kakadu. The vibrant illustrations compliment the writing - their bright colours and extra details will have many a child poring over them; and they reinforce the family values inherent in the text. Tarrah's narration moves deftly from the general to the specific when her Mum says one day: 'Dad and I are taking you and your cousins out to show you how to cook bush tucker. It is important for you to learn the right way to clean and cook, and the proper way of sharing.' This is where the balance of the book lies - it is matter-of-fact about the beauties of nature and eating it; and about the importance of family values such as respect for elders and sharing. The book ends with Tarrah wondering if the tourists who visit Kakadu love it as much as she does - young readers will be answering the implicit invitation to come and see it for themselves with a resounding, 'Yes, please!'
Marjorie Coughlan
July 2006
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