Nganana iriti, tangka wiya nyinangi Uwankara wiya. Nganana tangkiku ninti wiya Long, long ago, we didn’t have donkeys. We didn’t have a lot of things we have today. We didn’t know donkeys existed.

These words, written so poetically in Pitjantjatjara and then English, introduce us to this delightful and incredible story and to the wonderfully distinctive sculptures created by 17 artists of the famous Tjanpi Desert Weavers. On every page there are donkeys being loaded up, taking their families for picnics or holidays, and always bringing them back safely. Or, sometimes, just going hunting, gathering witchetty grubs, honey ants and quandongs. Of course now, life is very different, but the donkeys are still their friends and often come back just to visit them.

This book is an absolute delight. I’ve turned its pages so many times, but still see its beauty and recognise the rich history within the spectacular fibre art made by these women just from locally collected grasses, bound together around wire frames with string, wool or raffia.

Amazing!

Reviewed by Merle Morcom
Age Guide 4+