Country by Aunty Fay Muir & Sue Lawson. Illus. by Cheryl Davison

Country is all encompassing, giving a guide to culture and history, story and how to live.

This sharing of the importance of Country to Aboriginal people will inform all of the younger readers as they read and then look more wisely at the land on which they live. 

Aunty May’s words encompass all the things that Country means, starting with ‘Country is past, present, future,’ finishing with a plea to look after Country: ’When we care for Country, Country is strong and healthy. Then we are strong and healthy too.’

Each superb double page has one sentence showing what Country gives to us and next to it is a stunning illustration in creams and brows, reflecting the land, and using dots, stripes and outlines to give an image of the Country in which we live. Waterholes, creeks and rivers are illustrated by a beautiful river  complete with mangroves and bird life, while the page devoted to reptiles and fish shows fish swimming across the page. Each page is awe inspiring, using muted colours and Aboriginal motifs combining to give a recognisable image of Country and its importance to us all, ‘Country is all of us. Country is how we behave, how we care for each other.’

The teaming of award winning authors, Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson has resulted in a work which highlights the basic beliefs of Aboriginal people and how their attachment to Country is profound. This is surprisingly the first book by Cheryl Davison (Illustrator) and hopefully the first of many.

Themes: Aboriginal beliefs, Country, Environment.

Fran Knight