Noongar Boodja Waangkan: Noongar First Words

Noongar Boodja Waangkan: Noongar First Words is a colourful bilingual children's book by Noongar language teacher and cultural consultant Jayden Boundry, illustrated by Wardandi Noongar and Ait Koedhal artist Tyrown Waigana.

Meaning “talking on Noongar Country”, Noongar Boodja Waangkan introduces young readers to everyday words in the language of the Noongar nation of south-west Western Australia.

Written in both Noongar and English, the book is an engaging collection of first words covering topics that children encounter in everyday life, including family, body parts, plants, animals, emotions, colours, numbers, movement and more.

Children can also discover Noongar words connected to Country, land, water, sky and seasons, as well as traditional Noongar implements. The opening pages include maps showing the south-west region of Western Australia and the Countries of the 14 different Noongar groups.

An audio pronunciation guide is also available, making it easier for families and educators to hear and practise the Noongar words together.

Noongar Boodja Waangkan provides a welcoming introduction to Noongar language and gives children an opportunity to appreciate one of Australia's many First Nations languages.

Why You'll Love It

• Learn Noongar language: Introduces children to everyday Noongar words alongside English.

• Explore Country: Includes words for family, nature, animals, seasons, land, water and sky.

• Bilingual learning: Supports children's early exposure to an Australian First Nations language.

• Great for classrooms: A valuable resource for schools building diverse First Nations language collections.

• Audio pronunciation guide: Helps families and educators hear and practise the words together.

Book Details

• Title: Noongar Boodja Waangkan: Noongar First Words

• Author: Jayden Boundry

• Illustrator: Tyrown Waigana

• Author's heritage: Wadjak Balardong Noongar and Badimaya Yamatji

• Illustrator's heritage: Wardandi Noongar and Ait Koedhal

• Publisher: Fremantle Press

• Format: Hardback

• Pages: 24

• ISBN: 9781760991975

• Published: 2022

• Age: 3+ / early childhood and primary

• Languages: Noongar and English

• Genre: Bilingual First Nations Children's Book

• Themes: Noongar language, Country, family, animals, plants, emotions, colours, numbers and seasons

Noongar Boodja Waangkan is a wonderful choice for families, educators and libraries looking for Noongar language books, Aboriginal children's books, bilingual First Nations books and children's resources celebrating Australian Indigenous languages.