The backyard games by Alister Nicholson & Tom Jellett
A nostalgic look at the games played in the backyard involving all the kids in the neighbourhood is sure to recall happy times, and nudge the young audience into organising just such a day for themselves. When all the world seems glued to a screen, a boisterous, funny book like this is sure to please, as the kids take it upon themselves to participate in a plethora of games, limited only by their imaginations and the equipment hanging in the shed.
In rhyming pairs of lines, the story unfolds as the kids pool the equipment, thinking about the heroes who have gone before them: Thorpe and Pearson and of course, Cathy Freeman.
Each of the children selects their country and hold a parade of nations around the backyard to open the games, making sure that someone is turning the sausages on the barbecue. The first quest for gold comes as the bows and arrows are used, the targets being plates from the kitchen, something that Mum is not happy about. During a foot race, one child falls over and the sportsmanship of John Landy comes to the fore. A larger child gets the weights ready, buckets of paint strung at each end of the broom handle. The same broom handle comes in handy when the children aspire to doing the high jump onto a mattress conveniently placed beneath. A group of kids bring their bikes in for a bicycle race, and after that the field events come along. All are nervous when the discus flies over the fence into a backyard where a ferocious dog patrols. Tennis and skateboarding follow, and then cricket and hockey. As the day draws to a close, medals are given out to all participants. Everyone wins in these games and as the children depart for their own homes the question arises about whose backyard will be used tomorrow.
A lovely rollicking rhythm is set up by the two rhyming lines on each page, the children encouraged to yell out the predicted rhyming word, as well as involving themselves in the range of games laid out before them. How much equipment is occupying a place in the garden shed, unused and untouched.
Children will love thinking up their own games, getting others in their neighbourhood or class to be involved.
They will delight in the images of the backyard, all the accoutrements of the Australian backyard are all there: a Hills Hoist, a dog, a gate opening onto a lane, an old esky, bits of old bird netting, discarded tins of paint, a broom, all lovingly portrayed by Jellett with his signature household of characters. Children will love looking at the range of children represented in the backyard, and check out the names of the countries represented by them all.
A warm hearted look at the way families can use their backyard, encouraging the children in their neighbourhood to get together and play together.
Both the author and illustrator offer scenes from their childhoods, making it a tender, nostalgic look at something we seem to have lost. Hopefully this book will not only entertain, but remind kids and adults alike of the pleasure to be gained in playing in the backyard.
In schools, the book offers an opportunity for classes to follow the leader and at home for kids to gather together some of their neighbours. A focus on summer, of being outdoors, to trying sports not usually undertaken, this book is a springboard for an active participation, encouraging children to step outside their comfort zones. There will be a host of questions as the story is shared: who is John Landy, Pearson or Thorpe, what countries are involved in the games, what games are involved? And looking at the different ways we all spend our leisure time, with the endppapers there to help.
Themes: Backyard, Olympic Games, Competition, Neighbourhoods, Summer.
Fran Knight