Nangga! Nangga! Yakarti!
Tonight will be the Ceremony.

If you remember the first picture book in this series, Somebody’s Land, then you’ll be eager to read the next one.

The Ceremony is about to begin and the excitement is growing. The fire is lit for the mai (food) they’ll share but first the sisters, aunties and mothers make a separate group from the fathers, uncles and brothers. There’s a lot of face painting with dots and lines, clapsticks tapping and children dancing. Everyone is happy. The moon is full and the mai, the food, is great. What a way to spend the evening!

Every page in this book is full of happiness and fun. Little brown bodies dancing the night away around the fire in our beautiful Australian bush. And then a little later, the children all tucked up under the stars while the elders tell stories that have been passed down through the ages.

This book, Ceremony, will help us all understand what a wonderful culture we are able to share with our Indigenous families.

Reviewed by Merle Morcom
Age Guide 4+

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

An Adnyamathanha man, Adam Goodes is a champion Australian Rules football player with the Sydney Swans. Adam holds an elite place in AFL history, winning two Brownlow Medals and two premierships. He is a four-time All-Australian, member of the Indigenous Team of the Century, and has represented Australia in the International Rules Series.

Adam is proud of his Indigenous heritage, and is actively involved with several Indigenous sport and community programs. He has spent time working with troubled youth, including those in youth detention centres.

Together with his cousin and former teammate Michael O’Loughlin, Adam established the Go Foundation which empowers the next generation of Indigenous role models in all walks of life.

Adam co-chairs the foundation, focused on promoting education, employment and healthy lifestyles. Adam is a great role model and advocate for the fight against racism both on and off the field and is admired by a great many people around the nation.

Follow Adam Goodes ion Instagram

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ellie Laing is a communications professional and former political advisor and journalist, who lives on the lands of the Cammeraygal people on the northern beaches of Sydney with her husband and two sons.

When Ellie’s eldest son came home from preschool reciting Acknowledgements of Country and singing Aboriginal lullabies, she was inspired to collaborate with Adam Goodes on a series of books aimed at helping families with young children to talk about Australia’s First Nations history.

Together, Ellie and Adam have written Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country, Somebody’s Land: Welcome to Our Country and the upcoming Back On Country: Welcome to Our Country.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

David Hardy is an Indigenous artist, with over 8 years of feature film animation experience with Walt Disney Animation Studios.

David is also an author and illustrator of his own book series with Magabala Books, Alfie’s Search for Destiny and Alfie’s Big Wish.

David has also illustrated other book titles such as On the Way to Nanas, Beatbox Brothers and The Proud Foots, Shaka Shaka Hawaii.

He lives in Sydney with his wife May and two kids Caden and Summer.