When the World Was Soft

 When the World Was Soft

Reviewed By  Janet Mawdesley       May 22, 2024

 

Author  Juluwarlu Group Aboriginal Corporation

Distributor:      A&U Children's
ISBN:                 9781761180651
Publisher:         Allen and Unwin. Imprint A&U Children
Release Date:   April 2024  

Website:    https://www.allenandunwin.com 

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Yindjibarndi Creation Stories

From the moment When the World was Soft is held, it exudes a magic feeling. The soft cover, the mysterious and ghostly illustrations, and the title all add to this feeling. The welcome note from the CEO of the Juluwarlu Group Aboriginal Corporation tells us that the stories in this book have been passed down to this group for many generations, and their Creator, Minkala, “sang the songs of all life….”

The stories have allowed the imagination to flourish and lessons to be learnt for life. Behaviours and sustainable practices were also included in these stories.

To begin the book, we find some superb art works and photos which place the reader in the country around the Fortescue River. The next pages show us that this is a graphic novel which takes us back to the beginning of time when the world was soft.

Again, we have clear, elegant illustrations with minimum text. “The Creator, Minkala lifted the sky and pulled the earth from the sea.” As the story continues, we learn that every Yindjibarndi person is born into a kinship group. They are taught that a balance of the land is needed.

The story continues in depth and is broken up by photographs of local places. This is such a beautiful depiction of Aboriginal life and customs that it would grace any table. It is written with such love and generosity that the reader can’t help but feel privileged to be a part of this world for a short time.

Childrens