Boori Monty Pryor
Author of Maybe Tomorrow
About the Author
Boori Monty Pryor was born in Townsville, North Queensland in 1950. He was one of the first Aboriginal students to study at Pimlico High School. He is a multi-talented performer who has worked in film, television, modelling, sport, music and theatre-in-education. He has written several show more award-winning children's books with Meme McDonald including Maybe Tomorrow, Njunjul the Sun, The Binna Binna Man, My Girragundji, and Flytrap. He also wrote a picture book with Jan Ormerod entitled Shake a Leg. He was Australia's Children's Laureate in 2012-2013. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Allen and Unwin Media Centre
Works by Boori Monty Pryor
Associated Works
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Pryor, Boori Monty
- Birthdate
- 1950
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- Australia
- Birthplace
- Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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Reviews
Shake a Leg by Boori Monty Pryor
https://shawjonathan.com/2017/10/09/boori-mony-prior-jan-ormerod-shake-a-leg/
½
I first heard of Boori Monty Pryor when I discovered his children’s book Shake a Leg (2010) illustrated by Jan Ormerod. I loved it straight away and incorporated it into lessons for students of all ages. You can see why from the inspired image on the front cover, black and white kids together, the white kid learning the Shake a Leg welcome dance from the others. It’s a great story because it’s set in a pizza parlour where the indigenous proprietor has learned the secret of the sauce in Italy (and speaks Italian) so it’s showing indigenous people successfully retaining their ancient culture while living in the modern world. And it’s funny too.
[...]
Two years after Shake a Leg was published, Boori Monty Pryor was appointed Australia’s inaugural Children’s Laureate, and as his memoir shows, this prestigious appointment celebrated the work he does in bringing Indigenous stories to schools all over Australia and beyond. He was also an Ambassador for the National Year of Reading in 2012.
Maybe Tomorrow was published in 1998, before these honours acknowledged the value of the work that Pryor had been doing for a long time. The memoir begins with the stark story of the tragedies that have befallen his family. Most of us know the facts about the alarming rate of suicide and premature deaths amongst Indigenous people, but Pryor makes it personal. He tells us first about one brother, then another, then a sister, then a nephew. There are family photos in the book that show the parents and other members of the family and it’s hard to imagine how so much grief could engulf one family without crushing them. Yet Maybe Tomorrow is an uplifting book, acknowledging the pain yet filled with optimism and determination to stay strong.
Pryor leaves the fringe camp of his home, and joins the air force where he learns important skills. He plays sport – football and basketball – as a way of belonging in two worlds. He becomes a DJ, he does modelling. And finally he settles into a role that is demanding but fulfilling, doing presentations in schools that showcase his Aboriginal culture and heritage with story, dance and music.
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2017/07/09/maybe-tomorrow-by-boori-monty-pryor-with-mem...… (more)
[...]
Two years after Shake a Leg was published, Boori Monty Pryor was appointed Australia’s inaugural Children’s Laureate, and as his memoir shows, this prestigious appointment celebrated the work he does in bringing Indigenous stories to schools all over Australia and beyond. He was also an Ambassador for the National Year of Reading in 2012.
Maybe Tomorrow was published in 1998, before these honours acknowledged the value of the work that Pryor had been doing for a long time. The memoir begins with the stark story of the tragedies that have befallen his family. Most of us know the facts about the alarming rate of suicide and premature deaths amongst Indigenous people, but Pryor makes it personal. He tells us first about one brother, then another, then a sister, then a nephew. There are family photos in the book that show the parents and other members of the family and it’s hard to imagine how so much grief could engulf one family without crushing them. Yet Maybe Tomorrow is an uplifting book, acknowledging the pain yet filled with optimism and determination to stay strong.
When I speak about the deaths of these four special people who died before their time, it’s not to make people say, ‘Oh, poor little blackfulla’ or make us look like victims. What I want people to do is to really sit down and ask, ‘Why did these people die?’ Because it is an important part and structure of this country. I’m not just speaking about my family. Most Aboriginal families I know have lost one or two people in the same way. As an Aboriginal family you expect that. You really do expect that. (p.4)
Pryor leaves the fringe camp of his home, and joins the air force where he learns important skills. He plays sport – football and basketball – as a way of belonging in two worlds. He becomes a DJ, he does modelling. And finally he settles into a role that is demanding but fulfilling, doing presentations in schools that showcase his Aboriginal culture and heritage with story, dance and music.
For a long while I didn’t know why I went off to the city and did all these things […]
It was all to do with me being a link, one of the many links. There are a lot of people who are links across the land. The links between Aboriginal culture and the white people. (p.118)
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2017/07/09/maybe-tomorrow-by-boori-monty-pryor-with-mem...… (more)
I love this man and the honesty with which he tells his story here. I have learnt so much both from him and from his writing. The power of his story lies in the love and strength he uses to describe even the tragic elements of his life. He uses humour to great effect and yet still conveys his message without faltering. He is just as wonderful when he speaks with students and teachers in person. He makes them laugh, cry and he engages them with his warmth and genuinely good spirit.
a boy named Boori gets a second chance when he mets a green tree frog a great book for all ages read it to your students and let the fun pour in
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- Works
- 5
- Also by
- 1
- Members
- 257
- Popularity
- #89,245
- Rating
- 4.0
- Reviews
- 14
- ISBNs
- 20