Country (Aunty Fay Muir & Sue Lawson, illus Cheryl Davison, Wild Dog)

Country is a celebration of earth and sky, sun, moon and stars—central to First Nations Culture. Through intricate, warm and entrancing artwork by renowned artist and Walbunja, Ngarigo woman Cheryl Davison, this picture book explores how Country is all of us; song and storytelling; past, present and future. Davison is on the Gulaga National Park board of management, governing the care of the Yuin people’s beloved and sacred mountain. This sense of love and care toward the land is clear in every detail of Davison’s illustrations. Country is carefully and sparingly written by award-winning authors Aunty Fay Muir—a Boon Wurrung Elder of the Yalukut Weelum of the Boon Wurrung, Wamba Wamba and Wergiai clans—and Sue Lawson. Muir and Lawson’s previous collaborative picture books (including Respect) are recognised for the sensitive way they explore topics such as family and coming of age. This new title is geared towards younger readers, perfect for introducing them to these basic tenets of First Nations Culture, and can be read to children as young as five. However, Country has clear curriculum links to the humanities and social sciences, English, and Australian history, and almost every page in the book could serve as a stand-alone writing prompt for older primary school students.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Baran Rostamian is an emerging writer living in Boorloo and a 2023 recipient of the Green Leaves / Red River poetry manuscript publishing project in partnership with Red River Press. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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