Cirrus@Austlit

'Four wonderful traditional teaching stories of the Wongutha people are collected together here for the first time: 'Barn Barn Barlala', 'The Kangaroos Who Wanted to be People', 'How Crows Became Black', 'Why the Emu Can't Fly'.

First published as individual titles in 1992, these stories were ground-breaking publications, presenting traditional Indigenous stories in a bi-lingual text. Sales of the individual titles now exceed 26,000 copies each. Updated with a vibrant new design, the stories are still as fresh and appealing as ever. The collected work contains a map, explanatory note and a simple pronunciation guide for the Wongutha words used in the text.' (Source: Fremantle Press website)

'From traditional Indigenous teaching stories to stories based on the author's childhood at Mount Margaret Mission, Wongutha Tales is a unique collection bringing together May O'Brien's wonderful work for the first time.

'First published as individual titles in 1992, May O'Brien's stories were ground-breaking publications, presenting traditional Indigenous stories in a bilingual text and giving a unique insight into learning English as a second language from a First Nations perspective. Classic tales such as How Crows Became Black and Why the Emu Can't Fly are still as fresh and appealing as ever for a new generation of junior readers. Plus May's simple pronunciation guide for Wongutha words are perfect learning activities for the classroom.' (Publication summary)