This Book Week, DeadlyScience is bringing a very special story to life with a Deadly Stories live read of Tamarra: A Story of Termites on Gurindji Country.

Recently included in the UNESCO–IBBY Collection of Remarkable Books in Indigenous and Endangered Languages, Tamarra brings together story, science, Language and knowledge from Gurindji Country.

Written by authors with deep connections to Gurindji Country, the book takes readers into the fascinating world of termites and the important role they play within desert ecosystems. Along the way, readers explore food webs, life cycles and Gurindji bush medicine, discovering how science and knowledge are connected to Country.

A story told in English and Gurindji

For this special Deadly Stories session, the authors will read Tamarra in both English and Gurindji, giving learners the opportunity to experience the story through Language and hear knowledge shared from Country.

While termites are at the heart of the story, Tamarra is about much more than tiny insects. It is a story about Country, connection and knowledge passed through generations.

It offers a powerful reminder that science can be found all around us — in the natural world, in observation and in the knowledge held and shared by First Nations communities.

Join us for the live read

As part of Book Week 2026, classrooms and families are invited to join us for this special Deadly Stories session.

Date: Tuesday 25 August
Time: 11:00am AEST
Register: Register Now.

Whether you’re an educator looking for a meaningful Book Week experience or a young reader who loves discovering the science behind the natural world, Tamarra is a wonderful opportunity to explore story, science, Language and knowledge together.

Don’t have a copy of Tamarra yet? You can grab one from the DeadlyScience Store.

Join us this Book Week as we celebrate a story that brings the science of termites, the knowledge of Country and the richness of Gurindji Language together.