We Love Country is a children’s book developed by the Department for Education, Children and Young People in collaboration between Aboriginal Education Services and Early Learning. It is authored by Leanne Pelikan, Kylie Dickson and Nicole Smith and illustrated by Luke Emmerton & Jamin.
The book feature’s rich illustrations of lutruwita/Tasmanian’s special places, the flora and fauna that populate them, and Nanna and her two grandchildren as they immerse in the sights, tastes and smells of Country. The illustrations were produced in spray paint as large scale mural paintings, and you can see some of the works in progress below.
These murals were painted in 2022 over several months at Luke’s home studio in Claremont, lutruwita/Tasmania. Jamin and Luke have completed several large projects together including Mapiya Lumi / Around Here, a permanent Children’s exhibition at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, as well as murals in Kingston and Glenorchy.
Jamin is a father to two children, and Luke is a father and a grandfather. This is their first children’s book – but not their last!
‘We Love Country’ Sample Page
From the DECYP Website (Tasmanian Government)
The We love Country book has been developed by the Department for Education, Children and Young People in collaboration between Aboriginal Education Services and Early Learning.
Authors Leanne Pelikan, Kylie Dickson and Nicole Smith – whose mobs are from Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria – wrote this story about Nanna showing her grandchildren (and the reader) how they connect with Country.
It features beautiful illustrations based on familiar Tasmanian landscapes by local artists Jamin and Luke Emmerton.
The Department’s Deputy Secretary for Development and Support, Jodee Wilson, said the We love Country book is for the enjoyment of children and their families. It provides opportunities for all children to engage and learn from the story and the illustrations.
“A picture book like We love Country helps our children to understand and value our Tasmanian Aboriginal histories and cultures, particularly Aboriginal people’s connection to Country,” she said.
“When families spend time together reading and talking, not only do children benefit from enjoying a story, they also learn new words which is good for their vocabulary development.”
Co-authors and Department Aboriginal Education Services staff, Kylie Dickson and Leanne Pelikan, talk about ways we can connect with Country.
“We love Country features native Tasmanian animals, plants and locations and explores Country using each of the five senses – sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. Think: hearing the screeching of yellow-tailed black cockatoos, or smelling the eucalyptus from tall gum trees,” Kylie says.
Leanne adds, “Young children learn best by exploring with their senses. This book demonstrates how that works for Aboriginal people and the importance of our connection to Country. This book is about sharing and passing on our ways of learning from Tasmania’s Aboriginal people to the wider community.”
All children who attend any of the Department’s birth to four years programs across the state will receive their very own, take-home copy of We love Country.
Copies of We love Country will also soon be shared with Education and Care services, and Catholic and Independent birth to four years programs across the state.
Author readings will take place at Connected Beginnings community events in Gagebrook, Burnie and Launceston this week.
For more information, and to watch an animated version of the We love Country book, visit the Great Start website.
Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that we are on what always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
We learn and play on this Country, the land of the palawa / pakana people.
We thank them for caring for this Country and we promise to care for it too.