1. Adventure
2. Cooperation
3. Friendship
4. Games
5. Outdoors
6. Sharing
7. Sports

‘Backyard Footy’ is all about the joy of friendship, sharing and footy, in this case Australian Rules Football. Jy is kicking his football around in his yard when it sails over the fence into Kitara’s yard and so begins the fun as the ball is kicked further and further into more backyards and creeks and more and more friends become involved.

Sometimes kicks go astray and the football disrupts a family lunch and then disaster when it flies into a fire and pops. Happily, however Shane has a new one and they all follow him to the oval to play. ‘Footy by yourself is fun but playing with mates is better.’

Lothian Backyard Sports series

The story is fast-paced and lively and matched by the bright illustrations that show plenty of movement and action. This is a celebration not just of football but of mateship and the joy of sharing and the exhilaration of physical activity.

Carl Merrison is a respected Jaru/Kija man. His first book, written with Hakea Hustler, ‘Black Cockatoo’ was CBCA Book of the Year Honour Book in the Younger Readers category. Illustrator Samantha Campbell is descended from the Dagoman people from Katherine NT. This is their second collaboration, the first ‘My Deadly Boots’ was published in 2021. ‘Backyard Footy’ was created as part of the national black&write! Project that is focused on developing First Nations writers and editors.

1. Scholastic Teaching Notes by Ernest Price for “Backyard Footy’ by Carl Merrison and Samantha Campbell https://resource.scholastic.com.au/ResourceFiles/100126105_111869.pdf
2. Hachette Teacher resources by Ernest Price for ‘Backyard Footy’ by Carl Merrison and Samantha Campbell (Different to that listed above) https://cdn.hachette.com.au/resources/9780734421517-teachers-resources.pdf
3. ReadPlus 31 May 2023. Kathryn Beilby reviews ‘Backyard Footy’ by Carl Merrison and Samantha Campbell. https://www.readplus.com.au/reviews/backyard-footy
4. Better Reading. Review of ‘Backyard Footy’ by Carl Merrison and Samantha Campbell https://www.betterreading.com.au/kids-ya/celebrating-footy-and-friendship-read-our-review-of-backyard-footy-by-carl-merrison-illustrated-by-samantha-campbell/
5. Better Reading Q&A with Carl Merrison https://www.betterreading.com.au/kids-ya/qa-carl-merrison-author-of-backyard-footy/
6. A Word about Books blog ‘Backyard Footy’ by Carl Merrison and Samantha Campbell https://www.awordaboutbooks.com/blog/backyard-footy-carl-merrison-illustrated-by-samantha-campbell
7. Hakea Hustler & Carl Merrison 10 February 2023. ‘First Nations AFL books in 2023 https://carlandhakea.com.au/first-nations-afl-books-in-2023/