Description

2024 CBCA Shortlist – New Illustrator

The Shadow Taboo is an old Gamilaraay tradition where one must avoid stepping on the shadows of others. Jared Field shares this traditional custom through the story of Etta – a girl who learns this lesson the hard way when she stands on her baawaa’s (sister’s) shadow. Etta turns to the spirit tree for guidance and is shown the importance of respecting the personal space of others – and the value of having her own personal space – and after apologising to her baawaa, swears to always ask herself:

The spirit tree knows
The spirit tree cares
Where is my shadow?
And where is theirs?

And where is mine?
To hurt a shadow
Is surely a crime

When Etta steps on Baawaa’s (her sister’s) shadow, she learns of the Shadow Taboo, and learns to value the personal space of others, as well as her own.

Written by Gamilaraay author JM Field and illustrated by Ngarabal/Gomeroi artist Jeremy Worrall, Etta and the Shadow Taboo will invite readers to follow a Gamilaraay tradition where one must avoid stepping on the shadows of others.