Jarrampa are cherabin – they are very tasty to eat but a challenge to catch because of those claws. One old woman had a clever way of catching them – she put meat between her toes and then put her feet into the billabong. When the jarrampa started to nibble at the meat, she quickly gathered them up in her skirts and put them in a bucket. Later the whole family sat around the campfire to share in a delicious meal of jarrampa.

This bilingual book – in Walmajarri and English – was produced in a workshop with ILF Ambassador Alison Lester, and author and publisher Jane Godwin. 

About the author and illustrators: Marshia Cook lives in Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia with her family. This is her first book, but she has more planned, more books in her language of which there are so few.

Tamua Nuggett and Cazarus Baker are her children. This was very much a family project. 

ILF Community Publishing

Community: Fitzroy Crossing, Fitzroy Valley, WA

Language: Walmajarri

‘The Binna Binna man is a big fulla and he stinks like a goat. He can be good and heal you, but if you poke fun at him then you can get into big trouble, like die.’

In Binna Binna country you should watch where you go, even on a night when life is so stuffed up that nothing matters any more. You go wandering too far and you might come face to face with your worst nightmare – the Binna Binna man.

Filled with laughter and affection, this is the powerful story of a boy who is learning that if you forget where you come from you get weak. That to stay strong you must listen to the old people with your eyes and your ears – and your heart. A companion to My Girragundji.

Yanga Mother is a timely and poetic celebration of First Nations languages. This powerful bilingual story honours connection to Country and the unbreakable bonds of never-ending motherly love. Wandaguli Yanga. There is always Mother. From award-winning writer Cheryl Leavy comes this beautiful picture book in Kooma and English about a grey kangaroo and her joey, and the unbreakable bonds of family. With artwork from renowned Meriam and Yupungathi artist Christopher Bassi, this gentle yet powerful story honours the Stolen Generations, First Nations matriarchs, and never-ending motherly love.

Connie, a cassowary from Australia's Gold Coast, feels out of place among flying birds. But when she learns that her kind lives in tropical northern Queensland, she embarks on a journey to find others like her. Along the way, she makes new friends and discovers the strength in being different. The Very Lonely Cassowary is a heartwarming tale that celebrates individuality and the unique qualities that make us special, complemented by vibrant artwork that brings the story and its themes to life.

Old Days is a vivid celebration of childhood memories, told through the eyes of the author as she recalls her time spent between Iwupataka (Jay Creek), Ntaria (Hermannsburg), and her mother's Country at Tempe Downs. Her lively artwork captures soaring eagles, goannas, echidnas, and horses, as well as joyful scenes of fishing, picnics, and life on Country. With a deep sense of place and community, this story brings the landscapes of Central Australia to life while honouring the Elders, family traditions, and playful adventures that shaped her early years.

This is an expansive and generous Welcome to Country from a most respected Elder, Aunty Joy Murphy, beautifully given form by Indigenous artist Lisa Kennedy.

Welcome to the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri People. We are part of this land and the land is part of us. This is where we come from. Wominjeka Wurundjeri balluk yearmenn koondee bik. Welcome to Country.

These stories form part of our collective history, the way we speak of and live culture still today, and the importance of passing on such stories to younger generations. Dr. Anita Heiss, Ed. Growing up Wiradjuri is a collection of personal stories by Wiradjuri Elders. The writers are Uncles and Aunties who came of age in New South Wales in the 1950s and 1960s. In a strong collective voice, they share the difficulties of growing up under the rule of the welfare board. Some describe their experiences of evading capture by the welfare mob, or of being stolen and forced into state care away from their families.

Goorramindi is a powerful and heartwarming tale about a noble freshwater crocodile who protects the river and all who depend on it. When a mischievous and dangerous crocodile named Walwarrangga snatches a young boy named Cory, it is Goorramindi who rises from the depths to save him. Rich in cultural meaning and resonating with the spirit of Country, this evocative story honours the balance of nature, the strength of guardianship, and the importance of respect in the deep, flowing waters of traditional lore.

Have you ever lost yourself in the pages of a book? Millie, a Warlpiri teenager, finds herself swept away by a willy willy, transported back to Alice Springs in 1924. There, she encounters a group of strangely familiar young people Sonny, Beryl, and Spike. As they share stories and compare their lives, they begin to uncover startling similarities between the past and the future of their town. A captivating blend of time travel and discovery, this tale explores the connections that bind generations across time.