2.32 Ambelin Kwaymullina, Caterpillar and Butterfly (2009)

2.32 Ambelin Kwaymullina, Caterpillar and Butterfly (2009)

This is another children's picture book, produced by the Fremantle Arts Press. The author and illustrator is from the Baigu and Nyamal people in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

It is a morality tale about a caterpillar who learns to be brave and thereby becomes a butterfly. It has simple, clear illustrations.

At first I was put off by the lack of pronouns. There is 'Sunset' instead of 'the sunset' and 'Rock' instead of 'the rock', but as I finished the book it was intended to convey a respect for nature.

It was shortlisted for the WA Young Readers Book Award, which is always a good sign. On the other hand, my daughter, now three and a quarter, was unimpressed. (But this might have been because she is currently obsessed with *The Wizard of Oz* and this book was noticeably lacking in the Scarecrow, Dorothy, Tin Man and Lion department).

Elizabeth Gaskell, The Life of Charlotte Bronte (1857)

This is the first biography of the Brontes. Gaskell sets up the ur-version of the lives of the Brontes as isolated, living close to the moor, tragic genius(es).

She wrote as a friend of the family and as someone who wanted to protect Charlotte’s reputation, so she writes through a particular, Victorian prism of propriety. But she still addresses issues that still dog female artists - balancing creativity and everyday obligations.

‘Henceforward Charlotte Brontë's existence becomes divided into two parallel currents - her life as Currer Bell, the author; her life as Charlotte Brontë, the woman. There were separate duties belonging to each character - not opposing each other; not impossible, but difficult to be reconciled. When a man becomes an author, it is probably merely a change of employment to him. He takes a portion of that time which has hitherto been devoted to some other study or pursuit; he gives up something of the legal or medical profession, in which he has hitherto endeavoured to serve others, or relinquishes part of the trade or business by which he has been striving to gain a livelihood; and another merchant or lawyer, or doctor, steps into his vacant place, and probably does as well as he. But no other can take up the quiet, regular duties of the daughter, the wife, or the mother, as well as she whom God has appointed to fill that particular place: a woman's principal work in life is hardly left to her own choice; nor can she drop the domestic charges devolving on her as an individual, for the exercise of the most splendid talents that were ever bestowed. And yet she must not shrink from the extra responsibility implied by the very fact of her possessing such talents. She must not hide her gift in a napkin; it was meant for the use and service of others. In an humble and faithful spirit must she labour to do what is not impossible, or God would not have set her to do it.’

Her language is a lot less bold than that of Charlotte Bronte herself: ‘Men begin to regard the position of woman in another light than they used to do; and a few men, whose sympathies are fine and whose sense of justice is strong, think and speak of it with a candour that commands my admiration. They say, however - and, to an extent, truly-that the amelioration of our condition depends on ourselves. Certainly there are evils which our own efforts will best reach; but as certainly there are other evils - deep-rooted in the foundation of the social system - which no efforts of ours can touch: of which we cannot complain; of which it is advisable not too often to think.’

One of the things that struck me as I read was how many other female writers Charlotte Bronte referenced or Gaskell mentioned. I only made a few notes but Elizabeth Gaskell; Harriet Martineau; Miss Kavanagh’s *Women of Christianity*; she disparages Austen, she admires Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Ruby

Ruby just got zero points in the 'gross motor skills' section of the Ages and Stages questionnaire. How I hate those things.

Filling it out is part one of getting her referred to the State Child Development Centre.

Gender and Advertising of Toys

There is an excellent petition to the big toy stores calling for an alteration in the ridiculous way they divide their catalogues into girls' and boys' toys.

http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/toychoice

Hooray, I say! Is it not enough that they sell toy irons? Must they also make them in pink plastic? And then label them as girls' toys.