For thousands and thousands of years,
Aboriginal people lived in the land we now call Australia.

We see them in the first pages of this book on the beautiful beaches, with their little families on the sand while others are playing in the clear blue water. We see dad building a home for his family while his wife nurses their young baby and the white-haired grandfather sits with the little ones telling them stories of long ago. An idyllic time.

But then the white people arrive.

As we turn the pages we see the children hiding as they watch the big ship sailing in, the scary men in their uniforms and a huge Union Jack fluttering in the breeze. Adam Goodes says …

When the white people came.
They called the land Terra Nullius.
They said it was nobody’s land
But it was somebody’s land.

These four lines of verse are repeated many times as we are introduced to the wonderful culture of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Somebody’s Land should be in every school library so parents and teachers can read it to their children and begin an important discussion. It’s a book with a serious purpose but still oozes happiness.

Reviewed by Merle Morcom
Age Guide 4+

TEACHERS’ RESOURCE 1 – SOMEBODY’S LAND

TEACHERS’S RESOURCE 2 – SOMEBODY’S LAND

TEACHERS’ RESOURCE – SOMEBODY’S LAND 3

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.