Our Dance (Jacinta Daniher & Taylor Hampton, illus by Janelle Burger, Lothian)

Our Dance by Jacinta Daniher and proud Ngiyampaa/Wiradjuri man Taylor Hampton celebrates Australian First Nations culture through the joy of movement as children dance and sing in the corroboree. The book invites children to slither, stretch, bounce and crawl, showing how First Nations children traditionally learn their culture by listening, watching and joining in with others. Daniher, an early childhood educator, knows children absorb information through their senses and love to express their learning physically. Rather than a dry description of cultural elements, the book invites children to understand and participate in telling stories of the Dreaming through dance movements that mimic outback animals. Janelle Burger’s colourful illustrations provide strong images of Country, connecting the children’s dance to the rich traditions of First Nations culture and storytelling. She depicts children of different ages and backgrounds learning from an Elder, each other, and the creatures around them. As a Noongar and Italian artist, she brings a unique cultural perspective to the vibrant artwork. Our Dance is an excellent starting point for educational investigations into First Nations culture. It is a rich source of culturally specific information presented in an inclusive and accessible way for preschool and school-aged children.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Merril Darling is a freelance reviewer based in Melbourne. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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