1. Art techniques
2. Country
3. Culture
4. Emotions
5. Endpapers
6. Family
7. Grief
8. Gundungurra / Gandangara people (S60) (NSW SI56-09)
9. Identity
10. Kinship
11. Loneliness
12. Memories
13. Nature
14. Poetry
15. Stolen generations
16. Survival
17. Visual literacy

Few people would be unaware of the pain and trauma caused by the Stolen Generations: a dark time in Australia’s history. In ‘The Land Recalls You’, Kirli Saunders’ beautifully poetic text honours the Stolen Generations, their descendants and those taken from Country. It asks those effected not to despair on their loss but to know that the land, your Country, your Family, your Ancestors, your memories are ‘Ever present. Always there’. The text suggests that when you return to land that recalls you, you know that you are not forgotten, that you will be loved, welcomed and held tight to your family, your home, your Country. Your fears and worries will disappear knowing that you are always loved and known.

Transporting and reflecting these lyrical words is the emotively expressive artwork particularly the facial portrait on the front cover. On one double page spread, these faces hold strong if heartbreaking memories. The striking artwork was created using acrylic paint on wood panel.

Illustrators Daniel Cragg and Noni Cragg were shortlisted for the 2025 CBCA New Illustrators award.

Kirli Saunders OAM is a proud Gunai woman and an award-winning international writer of poetry, plays and children’s books. She was the 2020 NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year. She dedicated this book to members of her family and all Aboriginal children who were taken away from Country and Family and whose grief was dismissed.

Illustrators David and Noni Cragg are siblings of Irish, Scottish, Bunjalung and Birpi descent.

David Cragg is a multidisciplinary artist working on Dharwwal Country (Illawarra, NSW) and Noni Cragg is a portrait artist inspired by culture, colour and people. She is based in Sydney

The database contains a number of books on this topic. They can be located using the subject heading ‘Stolen Generations’.

1. Scholastic Teaching Notes for ‘The Land Recalls You’ by Kirli Saunders. Illustrated by David and Noni Cragg https://resource.scholastic.com.au/ResourceFiles/100132946_120758.pdf
2. Books + Publishing 12 March 2024. Joy Lawn reviews ‘The Land Recalls You’ https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2024/03/12/247227/the-land-recalls-you-kirli-saunders-illus-david-cragg-noni-cragg-scholastic/
3. Just So Stories 1 June 2024. Sue Warren reviews ‘The Land Recalls You’ https://losangzopa.blog/2024/06/01/the-land-recalls-you-kirli-saunders-david-cragg-and-noni-cragg/
4. Kirli Saunders website ‘About Me’ https://kirlisaunders.com/about
5. Broadsheet ‘Artist Noni Cragg paints a ‘Love Letter to the Community’ for Scape in Kingsford’ https://www.broadsheet.com.au/sydney/art-and-design/article/artist-noni-cragg-paints-love-letter-community-scape-kingsford