As Mary Malbunka shares her stories of playing with friends, building cubby houses, climbing trees, collecting sugarbag, digging for honey ants, hunting for lizards, and learning about the seasons, animals and plants, she creates a vivid picture of a truly Australian childhood in which country - ngurra is life itself. Warm and accessible, this is essentially an oral story, and it contains a number of words in Luritja whose meaning is explained in context and also within an extensive glossary. The book also interprets recurring symbols used in traditional Aboriginal painting. 'This beautiful work is a gift to children, education and reconciliation.' - Jackie Huggins AM, Co-Chair, Reconciliation Australia 'Mary Malbunka's story is simply bursting with details of her childhood in Papunya - the bush tucker and medicines, the animals, the sense of family and community, the Dreaming stories, the country itself...and the difficulties of fitting in to the white man's world. I'm sure readers young and old will find the vibrant picture it paints to be irresistible. It is also an important story because it helps Aboriginal people reclaim our traditional culture.' - Professor Lowitja O'Donoghue

Reviews

Malbunka s talented and varied illustrations, both dot and figurative, burst from the pages In all, When I was Little, Like Youportrays a rich and complex Aboriginal society in a way accessible to primary school children today. Gail Mahon, Australian Bookseller & PublisherA masterly melding of words and pictures a life story and work of art to treasure; a worthy companion to the award-winning Papunya School Book of Country and HistoryRobin Morrow, the Australian