Look at the front cover
What sort of text do you think this is? An information text or a story (Fiction or Non-Fiction)? How can you tell?
Who do you think the author is? Is there more than one? Why is one of the authors called 'Aunty"? What does that tell you about the origins of this story?
What is the meaning of the word, Wilam? What does Birrarung mean? Have you ever seen these words before?
Read the blurb? Do you have anymore information now?
Who do you think the author is? Is there more than one? Why is one of the authors called 'Aunty"? What does that tell you about the origins of this story?
What is the meaning of the word, Wilam? What does Birrarung mean? Have you ever seen these words before?
Read the blurb? Do you have anymore information now?
As you read the text you will notice that many of the English words have been replaced with the Indigenous words from the Woiwurrung language. Perhaps resist the temptation to look at the glossary at the back of the book. Looking closely at the text and the words around them you may be able to work out the meaning.
When you have finished check with the glossary to see how close you were.
When you have finished check with the glossary to see how close you were.
Start reading the text
Afterwards
What do we learn about the author's love of her country from reading this book? What do we learn about their knowledge of the animal life in and around the river?
Why do you think they chose to use the words from their tribe's language? What effect does it have on the book?
How does it make you feel when you are not part of that tribe's culture?
Look through the illustrations in the text. What techniques can you recognise in some of the illustrations?
Why do you think they chose to use the words from their tribe's language? What effect does it have on the book?
How does it make you feel when you are not part of that tribe's culture?
Look through the illustrations in the text. What techniques can you recognise in some of the illustrations?