My Super Uncle (Dannika Patterson, illus Seantelle Walsh, Ford St)

My Super Uncle is a charming picture book about a child and their “everyday superhero” uncle. Written by Dannika Patterson (Zoom) and illustrated by contemporary Noongar artist Seantelle Walsh, each page explores what the narrator loves about their uncle – from his physical strength and agility to his songs of Country (Ngurra) and his playfulness. LGBTQIA+ themes are subtly woven through the illustrations, hinting at a family structure that differs from a traditional nuclear family, and at the end, it is revealed that the child has two mothers and their uncle is their biological father. The story is simple to follow without being patronising, and the writing has a fun sense of rhythm and rhyme that children aged 3 to 6 will really enjoy. Walsh’s dreamy illustrations – with their soft edges and washy tones linking to the words, imagination and thoughts of the child narrator – will also appeal to this age group. While the book’s grounding in First Nations heritage and culture makes it especially resonant for Australian children, its celebration of queer families and being an everyday hero has universal appeal. It will be a useful tool for families and educators wanting to foster inclusivity and acceptance.

Books+Publishing reviewer: George Banach-Salas is a queer, non binary teacher, writer and former bookseller living in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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