Reviewed by Wendy Lipke
Inspired by the Uluru Statement from the Heart this book is an invitation to go on a journey together with family, friends and First Nations people. It is one of a set of children’s books belonging to a Welcome to Our Country series to connect young children, parents and teachers with First Nations history and culture.
This hard covered 26.5cm square book is beautifully presented. Inside both the front and back covers are striking illustrations situated above their aboriginal and English names, on a deep blue background. The illustrations in the remainder of the book dominate each page, yet the wording of the journey taken by the non-indigenous woman and her son is easy to read. The theme was inspired by the personal experience of one of the authors and the role her son played in generating her own learning journey. Ellie Laing has recently completed studies in traditional Aboriginal cultures and has teamed with Adam Goodes, former Australian Rules aboriginal footballer, to collaborate on this series of books talking about Australia’s First Nations history.
This book follows the path taken by the mother and son as they join a walk on country with an Aboriginal elder. This man, Uncle Boris, was an important person in Adam Goode’s life when he was growing up. All the people in the illustrations are happy as they reflect on what they are being told as they connect to country.
Further links between the authors and this book are made with two birds who can be seen on most of the pages. Walk With Us is dedicated to Ellie Laing’s late father, a keen fisherman, who hoped to return one day in a new life as a pelican. Adam Goodes tells the reader that ever since he moved to New South Wales, twenty-five years ago, the black cockatoo has followed him around. Searching for these birds on each page could lead to greater involvement for young children who are either reading themselves or having the book read to them.
The illustrator, a BarkindJi man, author, and artist, with several years of animation experience with Walt Disney Animation Studios, has worked on animated feature films well known to all young children such as the Little Mermaid and The Lion King 3 and many others. The people illustrated in his contribution to this book seem to pop right out of the page.
This is a beautiful book with an inspiring story. Other books in the series include Somebody’s Land, Ceremony and Back On Country. All of these books would be a great addition to educational programs and hopefully could help bring about a greater acceptance and understanding, as well as healing, between black and white cultures within this country.
Walk With Us
(2023)
By Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing
Illustrator – David Hardy
Allen & Unwin
ISBN:978 176106 507 1
$24.99; 28pp