Noongar Boodja Waangkan
Illustrator: Tyrown Waigana
Publisher: Fremantle Press
Published: 2022
Genre: Children's
Kaya! (Hello!) This is a book of first words in Noongar, the language of the Aboriginal people of the South West of Western Australia. Words are displayed in Noongar and English, naming family members, animals, seasons, colours, numbers, Noongar-midi (Noongar things), conversational phrases and more! A QR code at the front of the book links to an audio pronunciation guide – author and Noongar language teacher Jayden Boundry demonstrates each Noongar word three times, followed by its English translation. Waigana’s delicate watercolours are a fun aid on every page and endpapers show a map of the Noongar nation’s 14 groups.
Noongar Boodja Waangkan (waangkan means ‘talking’) will appeal to all ages. Very young readers will enjoy exploring the pages with an adult, while older children and adults will find this an enticing introduction to the Noongar language. This book would make a wonderful addition for classrooms building a diverse collection.