Review of Dressing for Dreamtime

[Christell Lindeque]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Dressing for Dreamtime" by J.E. Rogers.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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J.E. Rogers has written a children's book titled Dressing for Dreamtime. When Milbibi felt down, Nintaka painted him to cheer him up for the Dreamtime ceremony that night. Nintaka had requested that Milbibi also paint him, but when the time came, Milbibi made fewer efforts to paint Nintaka's body. What will Nintaka do when he finally sees himself? Or will people just tease him for his appearance?

This is a story that has been passed down through generations of Australian Aborigines, and at the end of the book, there is a glossary that describes the various things like animals and terminologies from Australia that are mentioned in the story. At the beginning of the book, in addition to introducing two main characters, the author provides some fascinating information about lizards. The patterns in the illustrations also reminded me of those used by members of South African tribes, which made me feel at home. It's also beautifully illustrated with vivid colours; kids from indigenous communities and Australia will adore this book.

There were a lot of words I didn't know going in, so it was helpful that the author foreshadowed the presence of a glossary at the back of the book. The author's use of descriptive language was another highlight for me. This was a fascinating tale, and I appreciate the opportunity to learn more about a different culture. The illustrations were also amazing and definitely captured my interest.

There was nothing I didn't like about this book, so I'm giving it the maximum possible rating of five out of five stars. Understanding the Aboriginal people and their culture was enlightening. I also liked that the book touches on themes of friendship and forgiveness. I think it was meticulously edited because I didn't find any mistakes.

I would recommend this book to children who are interested in gaining knowledge about other cultures. Children interested in lizards and books about friendship will enjoy this one, too.

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Dressing for Dreamtime
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