Wakka Wakka and Kaanju author Allison Rocca is bringing First Nations storytelling to young readers through her debut middle-grade novel Joey and the Junjardy.
The 256-page book, illustrated by Yawuru artist and writer Brenton E McKenna, follows Joey Gibbs after the "Big Trouble" at his old school forces his family to move back home to Coolibah Creek.
Joey plans to keep his head down at his new school, but trouble follows when his sister and cousin become the target of mysterious pranks.
As Joey looks to his Wakka Wakka culture for answers, he discovers the Junjardy, a little hairy trickster, has taken notice of him.
The story follows Joey as he is drawn back into mischief before the jokes spiral out of control.
Ms Rocca said the story was shaped by knowledge passed down through her family.
"My grandfather's stories about the Junjardy have always captivated me," Ms Rocca said.
"It wasn't until I had children of my own that I felt compelled to preserve the stories by writing them down."
The book has been described as a funny and raucous middle-grade story grounded in First Nations storytelling, with themes including culture, family, second chances, bullying, racism, friendship, environment and belonging.
Ms Rocca is a primary school teacher who has taught in Australia, remote villages in Asia and Oxford.
She lives and writes on Yuggera and Turrbal Country in Brisbane, and draws on stories passed down by her Elder grandparents to write fiction for children and young adults.
She said writing the book helped strengthen her own connection to culture.
"Writing helps me to feel connected to my culture," Ms Rocca said.
"I am so honoured to play a small part in storytelling traditions that have kept our culture alive for generations."
Joey and the Junjardy is aimed at readers aged eight to 12, but Ms Rocca said the story was also for anyone who wanted a fun book that stayed with them after the final page.
"I hope readers will see a bit of themselves in Joey," Ms Rocca said.
"There's something really powerful about connecting with a character and relating to what they are going through."
Mr McKenna brings the story to life as illustrator.
He fell in love with comic books at a young age, studied visual arts at Goulburn TAFE and became the first published Indigenous graphic novelist in 2011 with Ubby's Underdogs: The Legend of the Phoenix Dragon.
He also works with young people through creative storytelling workshops.
Ms Rocca said her experience as a teacher helped her understand the humour, language and stories young readers were looking for.
She is now working on a young adult novel about a girl who unearths an opal from the Dreaming.
Joey and the Junjardy is available to pre-order now through UQP, with its full release on 30 June.
