What’s Happening?
A new Torres Strait Islander children’s book, Geigi The Stubborn Boy, is now available through the Indigenous Literacy Foundation online bookshop and good bookstores.
The book is written by Torres Strait Islander authors Michael and Elliot Passi, with Elliot also illustrating the story. It is published by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, known as ILF.
Townsville readers will soon have a local chance to connect with the book through an upcoming launch.
Geigi The Stubborn Boy shares a Traditional Torres Strait Islands Creation story for young readers. It centres on listening to Elders, family, courage, and a mother’s effort to save her son.
It also explains the behaviour of the Giant Trevally and Triggerfish. These fish can still be seen today in the clear blue waters around Mer, Dauer and Waier.
“The story is an adaptation or retelling of a Traditional Torres Strait story that my grandparents, Aunties and Uncles used to tell me while I was sitting on Zomered village on Mer,” Michael Passi said.
“While waves were coming in, they would tell me this story. And sometimes you’d even see Geigi coming in and splashing amongst the sardines whilst telling the story.”
Why It Matters?
For families, schools and young readers, the book offers more than a Creation story.
It brings Torres Strait Islander culture into children’s reading spaces, while sharing lessons about respect, family and listening.
For Elliot Passi, representation was central to the project.
“I remember growing up with books like How The Butcher Birds Got Their Colours and I love those books. But I wanted there to be more from the Torres Strait Islands,” Elliot said.
“Knowing that a kid who is like me could pick up this book and say ‘Oh, I know this story, this place’ or ‘oh this is the Torres Strait Islands – this is like me’, that fills me with a lot of joy.”
By the Numbers
- The Townsville book launch is set for 29 June, giving North Queensland readers a local event tied to the release.
- A free National Library of Australia author talk will be livestreamed to students nationally at 2pm on 30 June.
- In 2024, ILF won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for its contribution to children’s and young adult literature.
Local Impact
The Townsville launch gives local readers, families, teachers and young people a direct link to the authors and the story.
It also adds a North Queensland event to a wider program of author talks and book launches.
Michael hopes the book helps more Australians understand Torres Strait Islander culture.
“Once we got south of the Queensland border, no one really knew about Torres Strait Islanders, their culture, or anything regarding us,” he said.
“So just having that little seed planted in people’s minds about the second Indigenous culture in Australia is what I want.”
Zoom In
Geigi The Stubborn Boy is the first book Michael and Elliot Passi have published together.
The project brings together Michael’s traditional storytelling knowledge and Elliot’s contemporary illustration style.
“This is the first book we’ve published together, but we’ve written and told stories our whole lives. Our culture is storytellers,” Elliot said.
Michael Passi is a Torres Strait Islander man who enjoys telling traditional stories to a modern audience. He recently left the public service to start his own consultancy business.
He loves his culture, creating project ideas, and writing television and movie scripts. He also writes comedy sketches, including co-writing a skit for the television show Black Comedy.
Elliot Passi is a 23-year-old Torres Strait Islander artist who enjoys creative and nerdy interests, from drawing characters to playing Dungeons & Dragons.
They grew up reading many Creation stories but did not see stories from their own people represented. They hope the book gives young Torres Strait Islander readers the representation they did not have growing up.
Zoom Out
ILF Publishing Projects Editor Nea Close-Brown said the story stood out to the publishing team.
“The story is special because it pulls you in. It reveals to the reader knowledge of a far-away place, yet stays with you in moments that chime as familiar – familiar messages about listening to your Elders and what happens when you muck around.”
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation is a national charity working with remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities across Australia.
Its work is Community-led and responds to requests from remote Communities. This includes culturally relevant books, early learning board books, resources, and programs.
ILF also supports Communities to create and publish their stories in languages of their choice.
Other events linked to Geigi The Stubborn Boy include Brisbane author availability after lunch on 8 June. The authors will also appear at a 9 June State Library Queensland forum.
The Brisbane forum theme is Create to Connect: First Languages in Action. It highlights how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are being strengthened, shared and celebrated through community, creativity, education and cultural practice.
A Cairns book launch is also scheduled for Monday, 5 July.
What To Look For Next?
Townsville readers can attend the local book launch on 29 June, with the National Library of Australia author talk following on 30 June.
The release gives schools, families and young readers another way to connect with Torres Strait Islander stories, language and culture.
Event Details
Townsville book launch
Date: 29 June
Event link: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/book-launch-for-geigi-the-stubborn-boy-tickets-1985225731604
National Library of Australia author talk
Date and time: 30 June at 2pm
Cost: Free
Format: Live streaming event for students nationally
Link: https://www.library.gov.au/whats-on/events/naidoc-week-online-author-talk-geigi-stubborn-boy
Cairns book launch
Date: Monday, 5 July
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/book-launch-of-geigi-the-subborn-boy-tickets-1985226315350
ILF online bookshop
Link: https://shop.ilf.org.au/
