Three Dresses

Three Dresses by Wanda Gibson (University of Queensland Press) HB RRP $26.99 ISBN: 9780702266355

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

A present of three second-hand dresses from the Lutheran Church makes a young Aboriginal girl very happy. When it comes time for her family to have a holiday from the Mission for two weeks, the girl’s mother tells her to pack ‘one to wash, one to wear and one spare’. Their break at the beach is brimming with activities, from swimming and fishing to storytelling around the camp fire. Dresses come in handy for carrying eggs and berries! The girl always keeps her precious dresses clean.

Nukgal Wurra author and artist Wanda Gibson recounts the simple joys of her childhood in this gentle picture book aimed at four-to-eight-year-olds. While the dresses are cherished and cared for as prized possessions, it soon becomes apparent that the real gift is quality time spent with kin, connecting to Country and to each other. Even non-Aboriginal children will appreciate the powerful nature of strong familial bonds.

The naive, childlike quality of Wanda’s paintings will appeal to young eyes. As the bright colours of Far North Queensland – tropical greens, distinct blues and sandy yellows – ripple across the spreads like an ocean wave, the reader can almost smell the salty sea air. This draws them more deeply into Wanda’s world.

Although it’s a blissful window on the past, the message enfolded within the fabric of Three Dresses is just as relevant to all Australian children today. Shared experiences flush with love, learning and laughter ensure that kids can survive anything life throws at them.