Page 53 - Tropic Magazine Issue 31

TROPIC • BOOKS

Three local writers to read up on

Natalie Mooney A primary school Debra Gavranich Combining local Rebecca Ralfe Officially launching at
teacher-turned-children’s book author, history and culture, Gavranich’s book is the Cairns Tropical Writers Festival this
Mooney has created a little book with big based on a true account of her parents’ August, Milo’s Little Secret tells the tale of a
dreams. Please Don’t Cry is designed to remarkable journey from Croatia to Far loveable but rogue cat who has charmed
help give babies and preschoolers a head North Queensland. Both born on the his way through a neighbourhood buffet,
start into literacy, with its rhyming sing- Croatian island of Korčula, her father’s bringing a community together in an
song story based on the traditional lullaby family migrated to Mossman in the unlikely way. The rhyming children’s
‘Hush Little Baby’. Mooney also writes 1920s to work on the cane fields, while picture book, ideal for readers three to
blogs on how reading to children from her mother, Marija, came as a proxy eight, was inspired by a real-life pet.
birth can support literacy development, bride in 1952. The Girl Who Left shares the Alongside being a debut author with a
while singing to babies has been shown to story of a traumatised post-war Europe passion for thoughtful and humorous
positively benefit both baby and parent! and the story of Marija’s escape from its writing, Ralfe is an anthropologist and
The 32-page picture book is published by poverty and despair to a different life in mother to three kids.
Little Steps Publishing. Australia. Published by Wild Dingo Press. Published by Larrikin House.

Refreshingly natural.

Scoo Brew Kombucha is a 100% all
natural, FRESH kombucha handcrafted
in Cairns, flavoured with 100% real fruit,
no essences, oils, concentrates, extracts,
added sugar, preservatives or stevia, just
the way nature intended.

Sc Brew loves ya guts!

53 • tropicnow.com.au