Yaama!

One of the books we’ve read recently is The Lizard Gang, written by Kirra Somerville and illustrated by Grace Fielding. Kirra Somerville was 9 years old when she wrote this story. She is from the Martu people in Western Australia.

The Lizard Gang is about a group of monitor lizards called Boo, Zoro, Eliza and Zed. They sometimes argued about who was the best. One said he was the best because he was the strongest, another because he could jump high, another because he was the fastest. One day the floodwaters came and they all had to find dry ground. They found that they helped each other to cross the swollen river using their particular gifts. In this way they all helped each other to survive. An important life lesson.

The children enjoyed this story and were at first amazed that it was written by a 9 year old. We discussed how they too could write a really good picture book and even submit it for consideration by a publisher for others to read and enjoy.

Phil Taylor

Religious Education Co-ordinator

Aboriginal Education Teacher