The First Sunrise (Vanessa Stevens, illus Paul Seden, Magabala)

The First Sunrise is the first Mbabaram creation story to be published and was passed down to Mbabaram, Yidinji, Kaanju and Taribelang Bunda woman Vanessa Stevens from her father, Colin Alec Stevens. The book also launches Magabala’s new series First Peoples • First Sciences. This book tells the story of the first sunrise ‘and how the sun gave us light, time and the four directions, north, south, east and west’. Kangaroo and Emu wander in a dark and timeless landscape until Mulungh, the great creator, teaches the animals to throw a boomerang until it hits the right spot and a glorious dawn erupts. Alongside this unfolding narrative are facts about prehistorical animals, the physics of boomerang-throwing, and planetary alignment. Paul Seden (My Dad’s Gone Away), descended from the Wuthathi and Muralag people of North Queensland, provides colourful illustrations that show this creation story from the exciting perspectives of Kangaroo and Emu. On one page, the two animals leap, trying to detach themselves from the dark shape on the ground, until Mulungh informs them it is their shadow. ‘Your shadows will help you know sunrise, noon and sunset,’ the great creator says. This book will help to connect young readers to concepts of the earth, sun and directionality through a story passed down over many generations. It will be great for children aged 4–10 who are first encountering scientific concepts; however, preschool-aged children will also enjoy the animals’ discoveries and reactions.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Angela Meyer is an author and lecturer in writing and publishing at RMIT. She is a former publisher and bookseller. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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