Kick it to Me

Kick it to Me by Neridah McMullin, illustrated by Peter Hudson (One Day Hill)
HB RRP $19.99
ISBN 9780980794861
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton

Hallelujah, the AFL season is nearly upon us again! But if it wasn't for Tom Wills and the Australian Aboriginal game of Marn-grook we would not have Australian Rules football at all. Kick it to Me captures the very beginnings of the greatest of sports, Australian Rules football, in this beautifully presented picture book.

Neridah McMullin takes us back to 1846 when a young Tom Wills lives in western Victoria and has his first contact with Marn-grook. Despondent over the end of the cricket season, Tom is searching for something to do. When his friend Jirra introduces him to the athleticism and fun of Marn-grook, Tom is gobsmacked and enthusiastically joins in.

Peter Hudson's colourful and lively illustrations have a freshness and vitality about them and the expressions of joy on the boys' faces as they play Marn-grook with their friends are a highlight of the book. Being Melbourne born and bred (and with a Sherrin for a soul) I can tap into this emotion. Football is exciting, it brings everyone together, it's fun!

Following the story, a fascinating biography of Tom Wills is included. Tom Wills has been credited with being the instigator of Australian Rules, blending aspects of different sports and developing the rules to create this unique game.The interaction in the text between Tom and the Aboriginal boys accurately depicts Wills' friendship with the local Djab Wurrung tribe whose language he became fluent in. As a youth, Wills attended school in Rugby and went on to study at Cambridge. On his return to Victoria, he became a leading sportsman and lobbied for a football club to be formed, working towards developing an Australian code.

There is also glossary of Aboriginal words and a forward by the Collingwood Football Club president, Eddie McGuire.

Kick it to Me is a book for young sports fans and a reminder of how Australia has managed to combine aspects of indigenous and European culture to come up with our own unique game and contribution to the sporting world.

Blackfella Whitefella

 Blackfella Whitefella by Neil Murray, illustrated by students from schools around Australia (One Day Hill)
PB RRP $19.99
ISBN 978-0-9807948-9-2
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Blackfella Whitefella is a picture book by Neil Murray and illustrated by students from all around Australia. It’s simple message - that we are all the same whatever our colour or race, and that it’s what’s in our hearts that matters - is one that should be shouted (and sung) many times over. It is a message that is passionately conveyed, important and relevant to all people, young and old. It makes us think about how we can make a difference, and help our children to embrace difference, to stand strong and to speaking out.

The words, originally written as lyrics, are rhythmic to read aloud, strong and accessible. The wonderful illustrations drawn by children help with this accessibility, allowing readers to identify with the sentiments expressed. The rich variety of these pictures emphasise the central message of diversity of people, that it takes all kinds to make a community. This book should appeal to children young and old, along with fans of Neil Murray and lovers of Australian song writers in general.

Blackfella Whitefella is the second of Neil Murray’s songs to be illustrated and released in picture book form. The first is his much loved My Island Home. One Day Hill has also published Paul Kelly’s From Little Things Big Things Grow as a picture book, illustrated by the kids from the Gurindjio Country and with painting by Peter Hudson. A percentage of the profits raised from the sale of this book will go to Ian Thorpe’s “Foundation for Youth” towards arts and literacy projects.