This collection draws together four tales for younger readers from the Waarda series of Indigenous stories, first edited by acclaimed author Sally Morgan.

This collection draws together four tales for younger readers from the Waarda series of Indigenous stories, first edited by acclaimed author Sally Morgan.

Two stories feature Lilli and her magical companion, Shadow. Living in Nan’s mango tree, Shadow is just the friend Lilli needs when adjusting to a new life in a new town. And, when Shadow finds himself the host of an unwanted visitor, Lilli becomes just the friend he needs too. The next two stories are about Annie, who learns how important ingenuity and strong family ties are when living in the remote community of Useless Loop. Annie helps her dad build an amazing beach sports car from a pile of junk before she and her family battle a cyclone.

Laura Dudgeon was born in Darwin in 1993. Her country is the Kimberley and she is descended from the Bardi people from north of Broome and the Giga people in the East Kimberley.

Sabrina Dudgeon-Swift is descended from the Bardi people from north of Broome, and the Gija people in the East Kimberley. Sabrina grew up in Darwin, but now lives in Perth and works for the School of Indigenous Studies at the University of Western Australia.

Pat Dudgeon was born in Darwin in 1959 and is descended from the Beniol Bardi people from north of Broome. Pat was the Chair of the Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association. She was also an Associate Professor and research fellow at the UWA School of Indigenous Studies.

Darlene Oxenham was born in Denham, Shark Bay. She is a Malgana woman and her country is around Shark Bay, between Geraldton and Carnarvon on the coast of Western Australia.