This is the story of Duelgum, the mother eel. She goes on a
long journey from her waterhole on the banks of the Brisbane River to the sea
at Morton Bay where she lays her eggs in the seagrass in the special nesting
ground at the bottom of the ocean before returning home.
The story then focuses on the journey undertaken by her babies
as they hatch and travel to the waterhole, a place of safety where they belong
and have everything the need.
Uncle Joe Kirk, the Brisbane and Wakka Wakka elder who shared
the story of Karana: The Story of Father Emu (KBR review), brings another
Indigenous Australian tale to life for young readers. Duelgum: The Story of
Mother Eel follows the life cycle of the eel, from waterhole to ocean and back
again. The freshwater eel plays a significant role in the Wakka Wakka culture
and is a spiritual totem related to ‘belonging’.
Beautiful illustrations by Sandi Harrold add colour and
movement to the story and are a wonderful addition to the text.
Duelgum: The Story of Mother Eel is a great resource, combining
nature themes, Indigenous culture, and a wonderful text with lots of active
movement words to create an engaging story for use in the classroom or home.
Title: Duelgum: The Story of Mother Eel
Author: Uncle Joe Kirk with Greer Casey and Sandi Harrold
Illustrator: Sandi Harrold
Publisher: Scholastic, $15.99 RRP
Publication Date: January 2015
Format: Softcover
ISBN: 9781743623114
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book
