Birrarung Wilam: a Story From Aboriginal Australia by Aunty Joy Murphy

Birrarung Wilam: a Story From Aboriginal Australia

Aunty Joy Murphy, Andrew Kelly

Candlewick Press · Print & ebook · August 4, 2020

A Picture Books pick for readers exploring Birrarung Wilam: a Story From Aboriginal Australia.

Buy on Amazon

We earn from qualifying purchases.

Who it’s for
Poetic river writing and vivid paintings bring Wurundjeri culture and the Yarra’s living landscape into view.
Themes
Indigenous culture, River and landscape, Flora and fauna
Genres
Indigenous Land Knowledge, Australia & Oceania, Oceans, Lakes & Water

Nearest books

Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved.

  1. For a Girl BecomingJoy Harjo43% match
  2. KangaroosMelissa Gish42% match
  3. Hello Humpback!Roy Henry Vickers, Lucky Budd40% match
  4. How to Say Hello to a WormKari Percival39% match
  5. The Barefoot Book of Earth TalesDawn Casey41% match
  6. Plants on the MoveÉmilie Vast40% match
  7. Wombats Are Pretty WeirdAbi Cushman40% matchShares Australia & Oceania
  8. AncestoryHannah Salyer40% match

For older readers: The River's Tale, The Biggest Estate on Earth, The Wild Places

Start with three books, and this one can be the first.

Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.

Start with this book

About this book

Travel along Melbourne’s twisting Yarra River in a glorious celebration of Indigenous culture and Australia’s unique flora and fauna. As ngua rises, Bunjil soars over mountain ash, flying higher and higher as the wind warms. Below, Birrarung begins its long winding path down to palem warreen.

Continue reading

Yarra Riverkeeper Andrew Kelly and Aboriginal Elder of the Wurundjeri people Aunty Joy Murphy join to tell the Indigenous and geographical story of Melbourne’s beautiful Yarra River — from its source to its mouth and from its prehistory to the present day. The writing dazzles with poetic descriptions of the trees, plants, and wildlife that thrive in harmony along the iconic waterway. Lush and vibrant acrylic paintings from Indigenous illustrator Lisa Kennedy make the mighty Yarra come to life — coursing under a starry sky, drawing people to its sunny shores, mirroring a searing orange sunset. Jewel-like details in the illustrations offer opportunities for discovery on every page. As gorgeous and powerful as the river itself, this stunner invites all to come to Wilam: home. End matter includes an authors' note and a glossary of the Woiwurrung words used in the story.

River in Two Languages

Poetic river writing and vivid paintings bring Wurundjeri culture and the Yarra’s living landscape into view.

Come here for

  • A journey from the Yarra’s source to its mouth
  • Indigenous words alongside trees, plants, and wildlife

Expect

  • Lush acrylic paintings with details to linger over
  • An authors’ note and glossary of Woiwurrung words

Where it sits

Oceans, Lakes & Water60%
Australia & Oceania56%
Indigenous Land Knowledge48%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Oceans, Lakes & Water
  • Australia & Oceania
  • Customs & Traditions
Authors
Aunty Joy Murphy, Andrew Kelly
Publisher
Candlewick Press
Published
August 4, 2020
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Indigenous culture · River and landscape · Flora and fauna
Reading lane
Oceans, Lakes & Water