Three inventive, daring kids and their diverse families, live in a three-level apartment block called Parrot Palace. There are lots of parrots there, but their main goal is to create a squad of mates.
Hari, Lily-Rosa and Mikey share their secrets. Is Mikey going to become a joker or a builder like his Dad? Or is Lily-Rosa really going to be a firefighter or ballerina? Or is Hari going to fix the disaster he created for his Nani and mother?
They all join together and confront their arch enemy, the neighbour Mr Crabtree. It is here, that they eventually find the real answers to friendship.
In this narrative there is: the stay-at-home dad (Hungarian) who minds two kids and plays the violin, while the mother (Chinese) works as a pre-school director; a sole parent (deceased father), Indian family with a mother who is a nurse and the Indian grandmother the homemaker; a nuclear family, with forebears here for many generations, and an (implied IVF) baby to be born soon.
The Indian and South East Asian cultures weave between the customs of Europe, China and Australia to become a celebration of a multi-cultural nation and democracy.
Three inventive, daring kids and their diverse families, live in a three-storey apartment block called Parrot Place. The backgrounds of the kids are Indian, Hungarian-Chinese girl and the boy next door.
The kids become the best band of friends as they confront their arch enemy, the neighbour Mr Crabtree.
In the end, there are surprises and everything changes.
From the opening pages, our taste buds are tantalized with the honey of jalebi, the warm sweetness of ripe strawberries, apple pie and samosas. The natural interweaving of cultures and customs; the interplay of the different shapes and styles of family; the fears and delight of a young boy Hari finding acceptance without question. The story is light-hearted and serious at the same time.
Parrot Palace gets under the skin of discrimination and works out ways to play, relate and celebrate inclusion.
Susanne Gervay is an award-winning Australian author, celebrated for her heartfelt and thought-provoking booksthat explore themes of family, identity, and belonging. Awarded the Lifetime Social Justice Literature Award by the International Literacy Association, nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, and an Order of Australia for literature, Susanne Gervay is internationally recognised for her youth literature that champions social justice. From multiculturalism and disability to peace and ethics, she engages young readers in meaningful and complex discussions through storytelling.
She worked closely with the community of the Indian subcontinent both on the subcontinent and Australia. She embraced the culture working with India, Australia and the multi-cultural communities that make up the nation. She spoke on Diwali at the Art Gallery of NSW and the Powerhouse; ran seminars at the Indian Consulate Sydney; represented India at the Festival of International Understanding; and participated in the Holi festival getting splatteredblasted by blue and red and yellow dye. Her background includes Hungarian heritage which is why Lily-Rosa in Hungarian and Chinese too. Susanne’s nephew married a Chinese Australian girl. Of course, she includes the iconic neighbourhood boy based in her grandson Seb. Parrot Palace is a reflection of all these experiences.
With her signature storytelling and ability to weave big ideas into accessible, engaging narratives, Susanne Gervay continues to inspire young readers to think about the world around them, make compassionate choices, and embrace the beauty of nature.
Sarah Tabassum
Sarah Tabassum is an illustrator who loves to explore the vibrant intersection of digital and traditional media. Born in the bustling city of Dhaka, Bangladesh, a beautiful country in the Indian subcontinent, subregion of Asia, of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Deeply influenced by the colours around her, she has always been captivated by the vibrant hues and patterns that define her surroundings. Today, she calls Sydney, Australia, her home, where she continues to draw inspiration from the diverse culture around her.
Sarah has always had a deep appreciation for art and its impact on people’s lives. Since 2020, she has been drawing rigorously, beginning with traditional media such as watercolour and gouache. She later transitioned to digital tools, which sparked a deep interest and dedication. She enrolled in multiple courses focused on narrative creation and character design, honing her skills in visual storytelling.
In addition to her artistic pursuits, Sarah holds an honours degree in Computer Science and Engineering, providing her with a unique perspective on her illustrations. This blend of artistic creativity with a deep understanding of digital tools and technologies enriches her work. When she’s not coding or illustrating, she loves taking photos doing sketches on location and traveling, always seeking fresh inspiration to incorporate into her projects.
Pooja Mathur
Pooja Mathur is a teacher librarian and reading club coordinator at a private boys’ high school, and the winner of ASLA (Australian School Library Association) Early Career Teacher Librarian Award 2023. Pooja is an active, loud, and proud promoter of reading for pleasure, Australian multicultural literature, and the importance of school libraries. Over the years, she has been involved in academic research and publication of various articles, as well as presenting at several Australian and international professional development events.
Pooja migrated from India to Australia in 2004, and lives in Sydney in a multi-generational family including her husband- Anurag, children – Antra and Ansh, and in-laws. Pooja’s parents visit often. Hari and Nani’s relationship replicates the close bond between Pooja’s children and their grandmothers – Sushma and Rashmi.
“Parrot Palace is an open invitation from the heart to step into a multi-hued, multicultural, inclusive world where difference is celebrated, tradition is valued, and the language of love is spoken. It certainly does ‘make the world a better place!’ A Must-Read!”
“An amazing story that brings India and Australia closer together, celebrates human relationship which doesn’t change from one side of the Indian Ocean to the other and fosters ‘dosti’ (friendship) between the two great nations.”
“What a beautiful book for our children growing up in Australia to treasure and appreciate. Parrot Palace takes me on an amazing journey to what the modern generation of young people want most: love, caring and sharing, irrespective of who you are and where you come from. It also reminds me dearly of the many things my friends and I did in my own childhood days: we shared (food with each other), cared (about each other), and were loved (by our friends, parents and elders) in order to survive a famine that seemed omnipresent, let alone being devastating. To me, Parrot Palace aptly illustrates the essence of humanity: love, care, and sharing what we have for the common good of the community we live in. I strongly recommend it to all our children growing up in Australia.”
“The Parrot Palace story is very relatable and entertaining. I read it to my 8 year old son and he enjoyed it thoroughly. He found it adventurous and loved how the kids helped Mr Crabtree in spite of him being mean to them. That’s a life lesson. The story reminded me of my childhood days and my playmates. Simple happiness, sorrows and the community feeling was so refreshing that it has the power of transporting readers down memory lane.”
“Sweet as a jalebi and heartwarming as apple pie, Parrot Palace is a moving and exciting story of childhood, friendship, neighbourliness and forgiveness. Growing up, some of my best friends were books, and how I wish I’d had a friend and a book like this, reflecting the true, warm, beating heart of Australian multicultural diversity. Hari and his friends will stay with you long after you’ve left Parrot Palace.”
May Gibbs acknowledgement:
Awarded the International SCBWI Crystal Kite Award
