Walking the Rock Country in Kakadu

Walking the Rock Country in Kakadu by Diane Lucas & Ben Tyler, illustrated by Emma Long (Allen & Unwin) HB RRP $29.99 ISBN 9781761067860

Reviewed by Nikki M Heath

What would you miss if you went for a walk in Kakadu? Walking the Rock Country In Kakadu (or Karrire kundenge karribolknan kunwarddehwardde in the local Kundjeyhmi language) shows how much there is to notice and appreciate for those who know how to look.

The book has the feel of a guided tour of the country, with the authors pointing out the flora, fauna, geography and culture of significance along the way, adding personal anecdotes. The illustrations are rich and detailed, supporting the text and making the reader feel almost as if they are truly there. It is a very long text, however, and without any narrative to speak of, the book takes some reader persistence.

For language nerds, a special treat is the Kundjeyhmi words peppered throughout the text, highlighted in bold colours and illustrated with small vignettes to provide the English translations. This is supported by an illustrated glossary, and pronunciations can be found by listening to the authors read the text aloud via a QR code. 

This is a substantial non-fiction text supported by detailed, sophisticated illustrations, which may offer great value in an upper primary context with appropriate teacher support and guidance.

Walking the Rock Country in Kakadu

Walking the Rock Country in Kakadu by Diane Lucas, Ben Tyler and Emma Long (Allen & Unwin) HB RRP $29.99 ISBN9781761067860

This book shows a breathtaking encounter with the magnificent rock country of Australia's iconic Kakadu National Park, from the highly acclaimed creators of Walking in Gagudju Country: Exploring the Monsoon Forest.

From the authors of the bestselling Walking with the Seasons in Kakadu comes this rich and fascinating book bringing together First Nations Australian knowledge, language, and history with Western science. This is the second of a proposed series of three titles, with the final titles to focus on the floodplains.

Diane Lucas and Ben Tyler share stories, knowledge, and their love of the land on a walk through one of Australia’s most ancient and beautiful ecosystems, introducing Kyndjeyehmi language, one of the languages of Kakadu and western Arnhem Land, along the way.

Illustrator Long’s detailed and beautifully rendered images vividly depict the rich and varied plant and animal life of this unique place, encouraging young and old to see, hear, smell, and feel the land and experience how Aboriginal people and lived and walked Country for thousands of years. Her fly pages of insect life among flowers, other plants, and rocks are stunning, and her interior pages are detailed and beautiful.

This is not a typical picture book insofar as the text is long and detailed as a family walks through the country observing wildlife in all its forms. As the text continues, there is frequent use of native words, like ‘Marrawuddi’ (or white-bellied sea eagle), and ‘Karlkki’ (or tadpoles).

At the end of the book there is an illustrated glossary of these words. And, too, there are longish acknowledgements from the book’s three creators.