A Kunwinjku Counting Book

by Gabriel Maralngurra

One, two, three. Nakudji, bokenh, danjbik. Accompanied by illustrations drawing on traditional Kunwinjku art, each of the twelve entries of this counting book showcases a different animal of West Arnhem Land, Australia. From crocodiles and echidnas to wallabies, children and adults alike will enjoy learning the Kunwinjku names for numbers and animals, as well as discovering more about these animals' habitat and behavior, and what they mean to the indigenous Bininj. Whether teaching you how dragonflies indicate the passing of the seasons or how to catch and cook barramundi, the fascinating Kunwinjku Counting Book offers insight into the complex ecology of West Arnhem Land and the vibrant traditions of Bininj culture.

Genres: Picture Books, Australia, Art, Animals, Nonfiction, Counting, Nature

40 pages, Hardcover

Published September 21, 2021

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning. And important - I knew almost nothing about these animals and even less about the people who live among (and eat) them. I'm thrilled by the authors' notes, by all the information, by the art. My only complaint is that there are no illustrations of photos of the animals; a page of thumbnails in the back would be nice. No bibliography, but none necessary.

Five stars not because it's perfect, but because I recommend it to everyone, whether you normally read picture-books or not this is a fantastic introduction to some info. about Australian Aboriginal culture.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ostensibly a counting book, this handsomely desgined work showcases the exquisitely intricate art of Gabriel Maralngurra, an Aboriginal Australian artist of the Bininj Ngalngbali clan who draws inspiration from the traditional rock art of West Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory and uses a traditional palette of ochre, browns, white, and black. Representing the six seasons in Kunwinjku, the creatures depicted include spoonbills, echidnas, turtles, dragonflies, goannas, water pythons, wallabies, and knob-tailed geckos. In an afterword Q&A, Maralngurra remarks, "Each of these animals means something to me; plus, they are good to eat all year-round." Back matter includes information about the rock art tradition, a description of how the art was created, a cyclical diagram explaining seasons in the outback, a biography of the artist, and a pronunciation guide.

[Kati Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful.

[Ms. Madalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This counting book provides translations in the Kunwinjku language of Aboriginal Australians.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An own voices book, written and illustrated by Gabriel Maralngurra, a member of the Ngalngbali clan in West Arnhem Land, Australia.
The book counts up to 12 animals indigenous to the Arnhem Land area: saltwater crocodile, snake-necked turtle, goanna, royal spoonbill, and more. Page headings are in English and Kunwinjku, a language of West Arnhem Land. Back matter includes how the illustrations were accomplished; the six seasons in Kunwinjku; a brief author bio; and a note on pronunciation of Kunwinjku.
A very interesting book, and look at one Aboriginal culture.

[Christie Kaaland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why are there so few reviews of this phenomenal book? A Kunwinjku Counting Book(2022) is an Australian Maori import; illustrator Gabriel Maralngurra uses his clan’s 15,000 year old ancestral rock art and storytelling techniques, used today in contemporary Bininj art, herein numbers one to twelve indigenous animals are described and displayed in stunning large portraits. A photographi of Maralngurra and a personal account of his art introduce readers to a rare look at an interesting locale and international art.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't what I expected! I thought it would have a few cute illustrations. It is actually a serious life/spiritual book about Australians in the Northern Territory. Most of the animals he tells about are eaten, which is jarring. The illustrations are magnificent! This is more a book for teens and adults who are interested in aboriginal lifestyles & spirituality.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Michelle Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Along with learning to count there was background information on each animal and also how tasty they were.