We Look, We Find
By women and children from Napranum Community
Using a kwe’, to hunt at low tide.
Looking for cha’angg , where do they hide?
Fishing off ‘arrighi , at Gonbung Beach.
Caught some alandhak , one
for each.
Poking through the pee la , with our stick.
Caught a mbyugh , roast it, quick!
Feeling in the prul , it was late.
Found some ‘akul , put them on a plate.
Walking through the la’ayn , swaying in the breeze.
Saw a long egher , stop now! Freeze!
Following the ndwapayn , to dig a deep hole.
Found a long kwi’ith , cook it in the coals.
High up in the thund , a shadow weaves.
Noisy ngga’nggar laughing, and dancing among the leaves.
Listen to the guiree , in the night sky.
Feeding on layndhi , squabbling up high.
Sitting by the errenh , under the setting sun.
LOOK! A sneaky kyembal ,
QUICK! G ET UP! RUUUN!!
Glossary
Thaynakwith Word Phonetic Pronunciation English Word
kwe’ kweh spear
cha’angg chaa aang stingray
‘arrighi aarighi rocks alandhak aalaanduk barramundi
pee la pee la mangroves
mbyugh my oogh mud crab
prul prool mud
‘akul akul mudshell
la’ayn line grass
egher eher snake
ndwapayn dwapine vine
kwi’ith kweeth yam
thund thoond tree
ngga’nggar gaa gaar kookaburra
guiree gwiree bat layndhi linedee mango
errenh erren river kyembal kumbul crocodile
Acknowledgements
This storybook is the result of a collaborative story writing and art workshop held in the Napranum Community during 2021.
Napranum PaL Group acknowledges Thaynakwith Elders past, present and emerging and thanks them for their permission to feature Thaynakwith language words in this story.
Contributors to the story:
Andrewena Hudson, Flora Pitt, Kaylene Jawai, Relena Ara, Zui Gara, Patricia Schuh, Roshni Senapati, Chris Hanrahan, Tricia Buxton
Contributing Artists: Marsha Hall, Kaylene Jawai, Andrewena Hudson, Relena Ara, Rachael Ara, Flora Pitt, Felane Hall, Patricia Schuh, Amy Peter, April Schuh, Natasha Smith, Mali Jai
Children contributing art: Ally, Peyton, Kendrick, Kitana, Josiah, Chloe, Aurora
About the Indigenous Literacy Foundation
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) is a national charity working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander remote Communities across Australia. We are Community-led, responding to requests from remote Communities for culturally relevant books, including early learning board books, resources, and programs to support Communities to create and publish their stories in languages of their choice. In 2024 the ILF won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, given annually to a person or organisation for their outstanding contribution to children’s or young adult literature.
First published in 2022 by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation
This board book edition published in 2026
Gadigal Country
Level 17/207 Kent Street
Sydney NSW 2000 ilf.org.au
Copyright © Napranum PaL Group, 2022
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations) in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Cataloguing-in-Publication details are available from the National Library of Australia.
www.trove.nla.gov.au
ISBN 9781923456693
Design by Lee Burgemeestre and Holly Doran
Printed in China by RR Donnelley Asia Printing Solutions Limited
About this book: Community: Napranum Country: Alngith Language: Thaynakwith
When walking on Country, what comes to your mind?
If you spend some time looking, what will you find?
