Mala or Rufous Hare Wallaby

The Shy Mala

by Liliana Stafford

The shy mala began with a phone call. After I heard the story that so beautifully illustrates the connection between the mala and the Warlpiri people I knew I wanted to do this book. I also wanted to do it in a way that was sensitive to the wishes of the Warlpirri people.I enlisted the support and help of a wonderful story teller and writer Boori Pryor who said, "I just needed to ask permission."

My daughter Sophia who illustrated the book did just that. She travelled to the Yunendamu community in the Tanami desert and asked permission of the traditional families for whom the mala was their dreaming animal.

The Shy Mala was short listed for the environment award and the WA Premier's award but more importantly the traditional families were happy and it has been on Yamba television, a television station for remote communities.

What a wonderful book. What beautiful colour and design. Liliana Stafford together with Sophia Zeilinski have excelled this time. Obviously both writer and artist have spent time in desert areas of Australia. The pictorial context supports the story line so well. Both are economical and the scarce words allow the young reader's imagination plenty of room. The story has a gentle moral but is not moralistic. It has a gentle teaching role but doesn't preach. All in all I recommend this book very highly to younger primary readers and also older readers considering conservation and indigenous issues. KR

Excerpt from Judges report.

Western Australian Premier's Book awards 2007

With the support and approval of the Warlpiri People, the text of Stafford's story stands out clearly against the vivid landscapes in this appealing picture book for young readers with it's encouraging story of successful cooperation and conservation.

About the author:

Liliana Stafford has published twelve books for children and illustrated one. She began writing seriously after the death of a beautiful welsh mountain pony called Chiko ridden by her daughter Hermine.