Stories from the Billabong

James Vance Marshall is also published under the names Ian Cameron and Donald Payne. His most famous book, Walkabout, was first published as The Children, and was later made into a movie by the director Nicholas Roeg. His other books include A River Ran Out of Eden, The Lost Ones (dramatised by Disney as The Island at the Top of the World) and White-Out. He lives in Dorking, SurreyFrancis Firebrace is a 'Wirrigan man', a name given to a wise Aboriginal elder whose songs, including traditional didgeridoo, retell the old stories and speak of freeing the spirit. He is one of Australia's foremost Aboriginal storytellers who has been 'yarning' since he can't remember when and performing at schools, festivals and theatres. He is also a highly respected artist whose works have been displayed throughout the world. He paints in the four colours his people (the Yorta Yorta) have used since the beginning of time: black from fire coals, white from pipe clay, red and yellow from ground ochre, and he mixes these with acrylic to achieve his own distinctive, contemporary effect. Francis lives in Weybridge, Surrey.

A book that will be enjoyed for its educational value and for the delightful re-telling of its age-old tales. || A book to respect and treasure which offers fascinating insight into the most ancient of cultures. It can be enjoyed on a variety of levels from its wonderful storytelling to an appreciation of the symbolic illustrations and thus used in various ways too. A rich resource indeed.

• The Rainbow Serpent and the Story of Creation 8 How the Kangaroo got her Pouch 12Why Frogs can only Croak 17Why Brolgas Dance 22Why the Platypus is such a Special Creature 26The Mountain Rose 31The Two Moths and the Flowers of the Mountain 36How the Crocodile got its Scales 41The Lizard-Man and the Creation of Uluru 45The Butterflies and the Mystery of Death 50About Aboriginal Australians 56Glossary 57Aboriginal Symbols and their meanings 60