It is through these relationships that the members of the Coconut gang are able to handle problems such as the bullies, Watts and Tommo and Jonah's relationship with The Bomb. This is a great book for all readers aged 9 years and up, who enjoy reading about school life. Well, in the The Whalers by Bronwyn Bancroft, the storyteller says that the killer whale is like a pet dog to the Aborigines. They help keep the sharks at bay and protect the Aborigines from the bite of the sperm whale. The Aboriginal people used killer whales in much the same way as we use sonic radar today, perhaps more efficiently and certainly a lot less wastefully.
Picture books rely on pictures and the text to tell a story.
The text is written in Aboriginal English and has the feeling of an oral storytelling by an Aboriginal elder. The pictures are clearly based on Aboriginal designs but are not restricted to the earth colours that are commonly used in Aboriginal art. The whalers have a very special relationship with the environment which in our modern society seems fascinating. As the author has said in the foreword, by telling this story to children, it will help them understand the Aboriginal culture and history and will make an important contribution to reconciliation. It is a charming book which is wonderfully illustrated with very entertaining text.