Finding meaningful and age-appropriate ways to introduce children to Aboriginal histories, cultures and perspectives can sometimes feel overwhelming for educators.
Where do you start? How do you introduce complex parts of Australia's history to young children? And how can you make conversations about Country, culture and connection part of everyday learning rather than something reserved for NAIDOC Week or Reconciliation Week?
The Welcome to Our Country series by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing, beautifully illustrated by Barkindji artist David Hardy, is a wonderful place to begin.
Created to help young children, families and educators connect with First Nations histories and cultures, the series uses engaging stories and illustrations to explore some big ideas in ways children can understand.
1. Somebody's Land
Somebody's Land is the first book in the series and provides an accessible introduction to First Nations history and the concept of terra nullius.
For thousands and thousands of years, Aboriginal people lived on and cared for the lands we now call Australia. Yet when Europeans arrived, the land was declared terra nullius — nobody's land.
But, of course, it was somebody's land.
Through simple language and powerful illustrations, the book provides educators with a starting point for conversations about Australia's history, Country and the continuing cultures of Aboriginal peoples.
Recommended for ages 4+, it can be particularly valuable when beginning age-appropriate truth-telling in Early Childhood and Lower Primary classrooms.
Explore with children: What does Country mean? Who are the Traditional Custodians of the Country your school or early learning service is on?
2. Ceremony
Ceremony is joyful, energetic and full of family, dance, language and community.
Children are invited into a family gathering where the fire burns, clapsticks tap and everyone prepares to participate in Ceremony.
One of the things we particularly love about this book is the inclusion of Adnyamathanha language, helping children see and hear Aboriginal language as a living and important part of culture.
The story provides opportunities to talk about family, gathering together, music, dance, caring for Country and the many different ways culture is shared from generation to generation.
Explore with children: Talk about the different ways families and communities gather, celebrate and pass knowledge between generations.
3. Back on Country
Back on Country explores something incredibly important — the connection between Country, family, culture and identity.
Lucy and David are going back to the Country their nanna comes from. There they meet family and Elders, visit special places, learn language and hear stories.
For First Nations peoples, Country is so much more than a physical place. Our relationship with Country encompasses lands, waters, skies, plants, animals, people, ancestors, stories, knowledge and culture.
This makes Back on Country a beautiful resource for helping children begin to understand that relationship.
Explore with children: What does it mean to belong to a place? How can we care for the Country where we live, learn and play?
4. Walk With Us
Walk With Us turns the conversation towards the Country beneath our own feet.
The story follows Harvey and his mum as they walk on Cammeraygal land with Uncle Boris, learning about the history, stories and people connected to the place.
Inspired by the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the book encourages readers to learn more about the First Nations Country where they live.
This makes it particularly useful for educators wanting to move beyond a generic approach to Aboriginal perspectives and begin building stronger connections with local Country, local history and local community.
Explore with children: Find out whose Country your school or service is located on. What can you learn about the Traditional Custodians, local language, significant places and continuing Aboriginal community?
5. Dreaming
The newest addition, Dreaming, introduces children to the vast and complex concept of the Dreaming and its central place within First Nations spirituality and life.
Told through the voice of a young girl, the story explores her understanding of her Muda, her Ancestors, Creation stories, Country and where she fits within it.
Importantly, this book can also open a conversation about the diversity of Aboriginal cultures. Dreaming stories, languages, knowledge and cultural practices belong to particular peoples and Countries — there isn't one single Aboriginal culture or one universal Dreaming story.
Designed for Lower Primary readers, Dreaming provides another accessible entry point into these deeper conversations.
Explore with children: Discuss how stories can carry knowledge across generations and why stories belonging to particular communities should be shared respectfully.
Why we love this series for classrooms
What makes the Welcome to Our Country series so valuable is the way the books work together.
Across the five stories, children can begin exploring:
- Aboriginal histories and truth-telling
- Country and connection to place
- Family and community
- Aboriginal languages
- Ceremony and cultural practices
- Ancestors and the Dreaming
- Caring for Country
- The continuing strength of Aboriginal cultures today
Rather than treating First Nations perspectives as a special event or one-off classroom activity, books like these can help make Aboriginal histories, cultures and perspectives part of children's everyday learning.
And that's where we believe some of the most meaningful learning happens.
Read the books together. Ask questions. Find out about the Country you're learning on. Connect with local community where appropriate. And allow one story to become the starting point for much deeper learning.
Bring First Nations stories into your classroom
At Riley Callie Resources, we believe First Nations books belong on classroom bookshelves all year round.
Our collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children's books has been thoughtfully selected to help educators share First Nations stories, histories, cultures and perspectives with children in meaningful and engaging ways.
Explore our Children's Books collection:
https://rileycallieresources.com.au/collections/childrens-books
Because embedding First Nations perspectives doesn't need to begin with having all the answers.
Sometimes, it begins by simply opening a book together.