1. Art techniques
2. Cities and Towns
3. Collage
4. Community
5. Environment
6. Family
7. Mental health
8. Nature
9. Plants
10. Stories without Words

A wordless picture book, ‘Belonging’ explores the re-greening of the city and the changes to the community over time. The book uses the view through one window and a focus on one family and one home to show the continuing changes happening in their lives and their community as they reclaim the urban landscape making it safer, full of community activity and a place to enjoy nature. It highlights the role of community and the significance of children, families, and the neighbourhood in changing and improving their environment.

Jeannie Baker describes her artwork as ‘collage construction’. She uses a range of materials, both natural and synthetic though she prefers natural materials when portraying scenery. The various elements of art, colour, texture, and space are incorporated in her collages with the focus being on creating a realistic and natural look by blending materials. The use of space helps create dimension, depth perspective and illusion.

Jeannie Baker uses her artwork to communicate her interests or messages. These messages range from the environment, family, society, sustainability, cultural diversity and more. In an Author’s note at the end of the book, Jeannie Baker laments the lack of connection to the land that people living in cities and towns have. By treating it as a ‘possession’ rather than understanding how we depend on the land to feed us, support us, and inspire us, when we understand that we ‘belong’ to the land, and it is important that we work to keep it healthy. The message being if we nurture the land, it will nurture us in return.

‘Belonging’ is a companion book to ‘Window’ and has won awards including the 2005 Environmental Award for Children’s Literature and named an honour book in the 2005 CBCA Picture Book of the Year Awards.

1. Scholastic Australia. Teacher Notes for ‘Belonging” by Jeannie Baker http://www.scool.scholastic.com.au/schoolzone/toolkit/assets/pdfs/belonging.pdf
2. MissEmsBookworm Read Aloud 4 July 2019. A reading and showcasing of images from ‘Belonging ‘by Jeannie Baker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFd12NAoSoQ
3. Steinberger, Kevin ‘Belonging -an interview. This is part of an extended review of Belonging in Magpies Vol 9 (3); July 2004 Belonging: an interview – Jeannie Baker
4. Fogg, Kirsten March 17, 2015. Writer Out of Residence blog ‘Belonging by Jeannie Baker’ Belonging by Jeannie Baker | Writer Out Of Residence
5. Jeannie Baker website ‘Belonging’ https://www.jeanniebaker.com/book/belonging/