When Michael Passi sat down with his son Elliot for a National Library of Australia author session, it was obvious they weren’t simply launching a children’s book. They were sharing a piece of home.

The book, Geigi, the Stubborn Boy, is a retelling of a traditional Meriam story from Mer in the eastern Torres Strait. Michael wrote the story, Elliot created the illustrations, and together they have produced something that is both deeply personal and deeply cultural. Their hope is that Torres Strait Islander children will see their own stories reflected in the pages, while children across Australia discover that Torres Strait Islander culture has its own unique identity, history and knowledge.

For BushTV, stories like this matter.

Over the years, we’ve travelled to some of Australia’s most remote communities, documenting the people, places and traditions that make this country so extraordinary. Again and again, we’ve been reminded that every community has stories worth telling, and that when those stories are shared by the people to whom they belong, they become something far more powerful than entertainment. They become a bridge between cultures and generations.

That is exactly what Michael and Elliot have created.

At its heart, Geigi, the Stubborn Boy is a story about a mischievous young boy who believes he knows better than his mother, Nageg. Ignoring her warnings, Geigi ventures to the far side of the island, where he discovers larger fish and begins playing tricks on an old man called Iriamuris from the neighbouring island of Dauer. What begins as harmless fun soon leads to consequences, until Geigi learns an important lesson about listening to his Elders and respecting others. It is a story filled with humour, adventure and timeless wisdom that has been passed down through generations of Meriam families.

Listening to Michael describe the origins of the story adds another layer to the book. This is not a fictional world invented around a kitchen table. The islands of Mer, Waier and Dauer are real places, and the beaches where the story unfolds can still be visited today. During the National Library presentation, Michael shared photographs of the very locations where Geigi is said to have walked, fished and played his tricks, explaining that his own family still walks those same beaches. The landscape itself becomes part of the story, connecting today’s children with countless generations who have known these places before them.

The collaboration between father and son also makes this project special. Michael brought the traditional story and cultural knowledge, while Elliot transformed it into a vibrant visual journey. During the author session, Elliot explained how he developed the illustrations and even wrote the playful fishing songs woven throughout the book, giving young readers another way to engage with the story. It is a wonderful example of culture being shared not only between generations, but through generations.

In an email to BushTV, Michael said the book is about far more than selling copies. For him and Elliot, it is about ensuring Torres Strait Islander children see themselves and their culture represented, while helping other Australian children understand that Torres Strait Islander peoples have their own distinct stories, identity and traditions. It is a vision that aligns closely with everything we believe storytelling should achieve.

Books like Geigi, the Stubborn Boy remind us that culture remains strong because people continue to tell their stories. Every time a parent reads this book to their child, every time a teacher shares it in a classroom, and every time a young reader discovers the islands of Mer for the first time, another thread is added to that continuing story.

If you’re looking for a meaningful book to share with your children, grandchildren or students, we encourage you to support Michael and Elliot’s work by purchasing a copy through the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Not only will you be helping celebrate an important Torres Strait Islander story, you’ll also be supporting the Foundation’s work to improve literacy outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children across Australia.

You can purchase Geigi, the Stubborn Boy through the Indigenous Literacy Foundation here:

Geigi the Stubborn Boy

You can also watch Michael and Elliot’s National Library of Australia author session here:

It is a beautiful reminder that some of Australia’s oldest stories continue to find new voices, ensuring they will be carried forward for generations to come.

Story by Tom Hearn