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Dreaming: Welcome to Our Country

Brief Description
In my dreaming at night, I see pictures behind my eyes that take me far away. Way way back in the beginning, Akurras slithered, carving rivers, in a Creation story from my Dreaming, my Muda. Law men came down from the sky to teach us about... Read More
Format: Hardback
$2799
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This warm and accessible title in the bestselling and award-winning Welcome to Our Country series invites children to feel the vastness of the Dreaming and its central place in the spirituality and lives of First Nations people. From Australian of the Year Adam Goodes, former journalist Ellie Laing and Barkindji illustrator David Hardy.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In my dreaming at night, I see pictures behind my eyes that take me far away. Way way back in the beginning, Akurras slithered, carving rivers, in a Creation story from my Dreaming, my Muda.

Law men came down from the sky to teach us about our Country. In my Muda, the Ancestors are never far, and I can see how I fit and who I am.

Told in a child's voice, Dreaming is a joyful and thought-provoking story in the bestselling and award-winning Welcome to Our Country series, and follows one young girl as she imagines what it might be like to be part of the Dreaming, past and present.

Praise for Somebody's Land:

'A celebration of the ancient sovereignty of this country, an invitation to address the hurt in our history, and a conversation starter for anyone who's ever wondered what an Acknowledgement of Country really means.' The Big Issue

'This book 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.' Good Reading

'The text is both engaging and hard-hitting with a distinctly poetical resonance ... Enchanting illustrations bring a reassuringly familiar Disneyesque charm to the book, while providing both humour and gravitas to the story. This is an important book to share with the young people in your life.' The Canberra Times

Praise for Ceremony:

'Every page in this book is full of happiness and fun.' Good Reading

Praise for Back on Country:

'A wonderful learning experience for kids and their families. A gift of knowledge and learning.' Kids' Book Review

Praise for Walk With Us:

'A vitally important story that makes learning about the history and culture of Aboriginal peoples not only highly engaging, but also accessible for younger readers (and adults too). It is a story that inspires readers to connect with Country through the lens of understanding its long and rich history.' Reading Opens Doors

'Adam and Ellie have crafted a narrative that is simple to understand, yet conveys deep meaning to even the youngest readers, while David's illustrations - as always - are full of expression and vibrancy. What an overall valuable addition to any library or home bookshelf! I highly recommend it, and the entire series, too and in my opinion, regard these as essential to any school collection in particular.' Just So Stories

Series: WELCOME TO OUR COUNTRY

View all
  • Back On Country: Welcome to Our Country
    'Where are we going again?' asks Lucy. 'Back on Country,' says Mum. 'Where we're going is where your nanna comes from, where we come from. Our Country is special to us. You'll see.' It's Lucy and David's first time back on Country. They meet their cousins and Elders, see special places, learn local language words, and hear stories as old...
    Hardback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country
    Welcome, children! Nangga! Nangga! Yakarti! Tonight will be our Ceremony. Our family gathers as the fire burns. The smoke rises up as we take it in turns . . . Then clapsticks tap - one, two, three - but a stick is missing! Where could it be? Joyful and full of fun, Ceremony invites you to celebrate the rich traditions...
    Hardback
    $2799
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    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Dreaming: Welcome to Our Country
    In my dreaming at night, I see pictures behind my eyes that take me far away. Way way back in the beginning, Akurras slithered, carving rivers, in a Creation story from my Dreaming, my Muda. Law men came down from the sky to teach us about our Country. In my Muda, the Ancestors are never far, and I can see...
    Hardback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Walk With Us: Welcome to Our Country
    Harvey and Mum are heading to their favourite park for a walk on Cammeraygal land.'Time to awaken the ancestors,' says Uncle Boris.Β 'Every time we sing or acknowledge Country, the ancestors are listening.'What do you know about the Country where you live?Inspired by the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Walk With Us is an invitation to go on a journey of...
    Hardback
    $2799
    Available
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  • Somebody's Land: Welcome to Our Country
    WINNER: 2022 Australian Book Industry Awards Picture Book of the Year (Ages 0-6) WINNER: 2022 Educational Publishing Awards Australia Primary Educational Picture Book WINNER: 2022 Karajia Award for Children's Literature WINNER: 2022 Speech Pathology AustraliaBook of the Year 5 to 8 Years For thousands and thousands of years, Aboriginal people lived in the land we call Australia.The land was where...
    Hardback
    $2799
    In Stock
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  • Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country
    Welcome, children!Nangga! Nangga! Yakarti!Tonight will be our Ceremony. Our family gathers as the fire burns.The smoke rises up as we take it in turns . . .Then clapsticks tap - one, two, three -but a stick is missing! Where could it be? Joyful and full of fun, Ceremony invites you to celebrate the rich traditions of dance, family, community, and...
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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781761065095

Publisher: A&U Children's

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 30 September 2025

Country: Australia

Imprint: A&U Children

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by David Hardy
  • Illustrated by David Hardy

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Width: 260.0mm

Height: 260.0mm

Weight: 392g

Pages: 24

About the Author

Adam Goodes is an Adnyamathanha and Narungga man and community leader. He is a former Australian Rules footballer, having achieved the greatest heights in the game, and was named Australian of the Year in 2014 for his public work in the fight against racism and his advocacy in First Nations affairs. Together with his cousin Michael O'Loughlin, Adam founded the GO Foundation, which supports and inspires the next generation of First Nations leaders. With a diploma in Aboriginal Studies and his own children at school and preschool, Adam was motivated to publish a series of books for young children and families about Australia's First Nations history.

Ellie Laing (nee Southwood) is a communications executive and former journalist, who lives on the lands of the Gammeraygal people on the northern beaches of Sydney with her husband and two sons. When Ellie's eldest son Harvey 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. She has recently completed studies in Traditional Aboriginal Cultures.

David Hardy is a Barkindji man, author and artist with more than eight years of animation experience with Walt Disney Animation Studios. Married with two children, he is currently Art Director and Game Art Manager for Lightning Box Games. David has worked on twelve animated feature films, includingβ€―The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning, The Lion King 3: Hakuna Matataβ€―andβ€―Return to Never Land. His books for children include β€―Alfie's Search for Destinyβ€―andβ€―Alfie's Big Wish, On the Way to Nana'sβ€―(written by Frances and Lindsay Haji-Ali), The Proud Foots 1:β€―Shaka Shaka Hawaiiβ€―(written by Lucas Proudfoot) and Aussie Kids:β€―Meet Zoe and Zac at the Zooβ€―(written by Belinda Murrell).

Also by Adam Goodes

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  • Kicking Goals with Goodesy and Magic
    Find out all this and much more in Kicking Goals, the story of Adam and Michael's friendship in their own words, as told to Anita Heiss. AFL legends Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin are blood brothers and great mates. They are also two of the best footballers ever to play for the Sydney Swans. Between them, they played over 650...
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  • Back On Country: Welcome to Our Country
    'Where are we going again?' asks Lucy. 'Back on Country,' says Mum. 'Where we're going is where your nanna comes from, where we come from. Our Country is special to us. You'll see.' It's Lucy and David's first time back on Country. They meet their cousins and Elders, see special places, learn local language words, and hear stories as old...
    Hardback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country
    Welcome, children! Nangga! Nangga! Yakarti! Tonight will be our Ceremony. Our family gathers as the fire burns. The smoke rises up as we take it in turns . . . Then clapsticks tap - one, two, three - but a stick is missing! Where could it be? Joyful and full of fun, Ceremony invites you to celebrate the rich traditions...
    Hardback
    $2799
    Available
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  • Walk With Us: Welcome to Our Country
    Harvey and Mum are heading to their favourite park for a walk on Cammeraygal land.'Time to awaken the ancestors,' says Uncle Boris.Β 'Every time we sing or acknowledge Country, the ancestors are listening.'What do you know about the Country where you live?Inspired by the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Walk With Us is an invitation to go on a journey of...
    Hardback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Somebody's Land: Welcome to Our Country
    WINNER: 2022 Australian Book Industry Awards Picture Book of the Year (Ages 0-6) WINNER: 2022 Educational Publishing Awards Australia Primary Educational Picture Book WINNER: 2022 Karajia Award for Children's Literature WINNER: 2022 Speech Pathology AustraliaBook of the Year 5 to 8 Years For thousands and thousands of years, Aboriginal people lived in the land we call Australia.The land was where...
    Hardback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country
    Welcome, children!Nangga! Nangga! Yakarti!Tonight will be our Ceremony. Our family gathers as the fire burns.The smoke rises up as we take it in turns . . .Then clapsticks tap - one, two, three -but a stick is missing! Where could it be? Joyful and full of fun, Ceremony invites you to celebrate the rich traditions of dance, family, community, and...
    Board book
    $1799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Also by Ellie Laing

View all
  • Back On Country: Welcome to Our Country
    'Where are we going again?' asks Lucy. 'Back on Country,' says Mum. 'Where we're going is where your nanna comes from, where we come from. Our Country is special to us. You'll see.' It's Lucy and David's first time back on Country. They meet their cousins and Elders, see special places, learn local language words, and hear stories as old...
    Hardback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country
    Welcome, children! Nangga! Nangga! Yakarti! Tonight will be our Ceremony. Our family gathers as the fire burns. The smoke rises up as we take it in turns . . . Then clapsticks tap - one, two, three - but a stick is missing! Where could it be? Joyful and full of fun, Ceremony invites you to celebrate the rich traditions...
    Hardback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Walk With Us: Welcome to Our Country
    Harvey and Mum are heading to their favourite park for a walk on Cammeraygal land.'Time to awaken the ancestors,' says Uncle Boris.Β 'Every time we sing or acknowledge Country, the ancestors are listening.'What do you know about the Country where you live?Inspired by the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Walk With Us is an invitation to go on a journey of...
    Hardback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Somebody's Land: Welcome to Our Country
    WINNER: 2022 Australian Book Industry Awards Picture Book of the Year (Ages 0-6) WINNER: 2022 Educational Publishing Awards Australia Primary Educational Picture Book WINNER: 2022 Karajia Award for Children's Literature WINNER: 2022 Speech Pathology AustraliaBook of the Year 5 to 8 Years For thousands and thousands of years, Aboriginal people lived in the land we call Australia.The land was where...
    Hardback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country
    Welcome, children!Nangga! Nangga! Yakarti!Tonight will be our Ceremony. Our family gathers as the fire burns.The smoke rises up as we take it in turns . . .Then clapsticks tap - one, two, three -but a stick is missing! Where could it be? Joyful and full of fun, Ceremony invites you to celebrate the rich traditions of dance, family, community, and...
    Board book
    $1799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

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