1. Ambition
2. Families
3. Games
4. Music
5. Perseverance
6. Singing
7. Sports
8. Sportspersons
9. Stories in rhyme

The repeated refrain by this footy-mad boy, says it all: ‘Footy, footy, I love it so. I love to tackle and scrum down low. Going to practice every week puts a smile on my face, ‘cause I’m a footy freak.’ He reads all the footy magazines and watches all the games on TV too. The colour photographs featured here capture the passion of young Dean, his mother and everyone playing or watching the game. No doubt about it - this child’s life is consumed by footy! Passion for the game is also captured in this rhyming text that is sure to attract other footy mad youngsters. The text of ‘Dean’s Footy Song’ is an adaptation of an Aunty Wendy’s Mob song on the ‘Happy to be me’ digital audio material.

This is one of a series of eight books for early primary aged children. It is accompanied by teachers’ resource books and digital audio material. Wendy Notley’s website states that protocol was followed in compiling and including cultural information by consulting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education and community based groups, Aboriginal educators and Elders over an 18-month period. Wendy Notley is a non-Aboriginal early childhood teacher who has worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the Redfern community. Amanda James regularly photographs for NITV (National Indigenous Television).

Series title: ‘Growing Up Strong’ and Happy to be me’ is the collective series title for eight picture books, two teacher resource books and digital audio material. The texts in the book series are adaptations of songs on the ‘Happy to be me’ CD.

1. Wendy Notley’s website https://www.auntywendysmob.com
2. Rugby League themed books for Children from Tessa Wooldridge https://tessawooldridge.com/2016/09/08/rugby-league-themed-books-for-children/
3. ‘Aboriginal Rugby League in Sydney’, by Heidi Norman 2011 in the Dictionary of Sydney https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/aboriginal_rugby_league_in_sydney
4. Redfern All Blacks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redfern_All_Blacks
5. Footy Almanac 1 October 2020 Patrick Skene ‘Rugby League: Redfern All Blacks – Keeping the Ball in Motion’ https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/almanac-rugby-league-redfern-all-blacks-keeping-the-ball-in-motion/
6. Active Activities – Rugby League for Kids https://www.activeactivities.com.au/directory/category/sports/ball-sports/rugby-league/article-rugby-league-for-kids-16.html