Meb Ata: Grandfather Moon by Merwez Whaleboat, illustrated by Sharon Phineasa

Title: Meb Ata: Grandfather Moon

Author: Merwez Whaleboat, illustrated by Sharon Phineasa

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: AIATSIS

Published: 10^th October 2026

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 32

Price: $27.95

Synopsis: ‘Meb Ata lives in the night sky and his light makes the sea glitter.  Meb Ata watches over our people in the Torres Strait, our totems the Wanpun, the Daumer, Dabor and Kebi Nam.’ On the Great Barrier Reef, there is a beautiful island with a hill shaped like a dugong. The island is called Murray Island, and the hill is called Gelam. All around the island are colourful reefs, fish and sea animals.  One special day, Swana and her grandmother Kaied go night fishing near the eye of Gelam. Meb Ata, Grandfather Moon, is full and the fish are biting …  

A rich and joyful story of the Torres Strait, with stunning illustrations

Key Points

•For ages 4-8 plus older readers and art lovers

• For early childhood and primary school educators, librarians, Torres Strait communities

•A stunning debut by actor and writer Merwez Whaleboat and artist Sharon Phineasa

•Heartwarming inter-generational relationships and the special relationship between a young girl and her grandmother

•Portrays the long-standing tradition of night fishing and the significance of totemic relationships

•First Nations picture book located in the Torres Strait; both the author and illustrator are charismatic spokespeople for their culture.

•Perfect conversation starter for the classroom with strong curriculum links (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures; Humanities and Social Sciences, History, Geography; the Arts, English – all levels)

•Themes include Torres Strait culture, art, family, relationships, Spirituality

~*~

Meb Ata: Grandfather Moon is a new book from AIATSIS and their publishing arm that puts out some lovely, inclusive, diverse and informative books by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creators. Meb Ata is a debut for the fantastic Torres Strait Islander team, Merwez Whaleboat and illustrator Sharon Phineasa.

In Meb Ata, Swana is getting ready to go night fishing on Murray Island with her grandmother, Kaied near Gelam. They’re getting everything ready before they head to the beach, taking in the colourful reefs, the animals that have meaning for their family, and the world that they live in. Kaied is there to guide Swana, to tell her about the totems of her family and show her how to fish.

Then, the moon rises and Swana and the reader are treated to a traditional tale about Grandfather Moon, of Meb Ata and his role as the guardian of the sky. It’s a lovely story, a lovely insight into Torres Strait Islander culture and their relationship with the world around them. It is also a reminder that every culture has their own stories about the moon, about the stars and about the skies that have significant meaning. Each one has a place, and each one can show us how to understand the night sky in different ways.

This was one I had not heard before, and I was gripped, and grateful that I was able to share and read this story. It’s a joy and privilege to share in cultural stories like this, and I hope as many people as possible can read this, to gain an understanding of Torres Strait Islander culture and get a taste for their language, which is translated in a glossary at the back. I always love to see something like this in books that use other languages, especially if they are ones people aren’t familiar with. It helps with learning and education, and can be a great conversation starter in the classroom.

And Sharon Phineasa’s illustrations are gorgeous and colourful. They are full of life, patterns, textures and colour that make the story spring to life in our imaginations. It’s lovely to see how people represent their cultures with authenticity and joy that makes this book sing.

It’s also about a family and their connections, about mothers and daughters. They connect in many different ways, embracing their culture and their lives on the islands. I truly loved reading this book and learning something new, learning something about a culture that is thousands of years old and how they relate to the world and environment around them.

All in all, this was a lovely book, a gentle book and one that also felt like it has a calming sensation about it. Because it is slow and purposeful, with a focus that shows how we can take our time doing the things that bring us joy. A great picture book, that has special meaning and I hope people will enjoy.