Collecting colour by Kylie Dunstan
Lothian, 2008. ISBN 9780734410221
(All ages) Highly recommended. Shortlisted by the Children's Book
Council, Collecting colour is a beautiful picture book that describes
the art of weaving with pandanus leaves. Rose goes on a trip with her
Aboriginal friend Olive into the bush. Olive's mother and her Aunty
show them how to collect pandanus and find the berries and roots that
will make the dyes to colour them. They have a wonderful day, gathering
leaves and colour, and having a picnic near the river. They throw in
their handlines and catch a barramundi that they bake in coals for tea.
When they get back home, they learn how to prepare the leaves and roots
and finally they get a chance to weave a mat by themselves.
Collecting colour, a memorable story of how traditional baskets and
mats are made, is told from the viewpoint of a small white girl. The
text takes the reader through the whole process, clearly showing the
complexity of the materials and the expertise that is needed to produce
a work of art. What makes this picture book so outstanding is the use
of beautiful vibrant colour and bold figures. Dunstan colours her pages
with vivid reds and oranges and all the shades of green and the figures
of all the characters look so warm and happy.
Reading this book made me want to go out and purchase a lovely piece of
art made from pandanus leaves.
Pat Pledger