What’s the book about?
Join one boy and his team as they play the Sir Doug Nicholls Round, which celebrates the contribution of First Nations culture to AFL.
Gulpa gaka! Welcome! Let’s play and run!
My name is Jahleel. Come join the fun!
I’m a proud Yorta Yorta kid, excited to be here.
Kicking big goals on the best day of the year!
With every goal, I cheer with glee,
an AFL star I hope to be.
Footy and culture come together as one,
in this land underneath the southern sun.
Recommended for:
Ages 3+
Three reasons to read it:
- The story takes place during the Sir Doug Nicholls Round, a special time in the AFL season that celebrates the contribution of First Nations people and culture to the game. Through Jahleel’s experience, readers can see how culture, pride, and football all come together on the field. It helps kids understand that sport can be a way to celebrate identity, history, and community while having fun playing the game.
- The vibrant artwork by Burger shows the excitement, colour, and movement of game day. The pictures help readers feel like they’re on the field with Jahleel and his teammates. From the energy of the players to the joyful celebrations, the illustrations make the story lively and engaging while also highlighting the pride and culture surrounding the match.
- My Dreamtime Match is full of action, and its story captures all the excitement. Readers follow Jahleel as he runs, kicks, and cheers with his team while chasing big goals. The book also shows how thrilling it feels to play in an important match and hear the crowd cheering. It makes kids feel the buzz of footy and the fun of being part of a team.
Buy a copy of My Dreamtime Match here.
About the author:
Taylor Hampton is a proud Ngiyampaa/Wiradjuri man and Jacinta Daniher is an early childhood educator. Taylor and Jacinta have a passion for educating young people about Aboriginal culture. In 2019, they established Birrang Cultural Connections to offer cultural workshops in education settings, with the vision of creating content that is educational, interactive and exciting. They have two children, Ella and Arlo, who have inspired them to create picture books that reflect their culture and experiences as young Aboriginal children growing up in Australia today.
Janelle Burger is an Indigenous Australian (Noongar) and Italian illustrator based in Paris, France. Her work is influenced by pop culture, fashion, video games and food. She has worked for a variety of clients, including creating gift cards for Papyrus, fine art prints for Rosenstiels, online illustrations for Tamu McPherson’s website All the Pretty Birds, and illustrating the book Get Changed by fashion stylist Kat Farmer. When she’s not drawing, Janelle likes to ride her bike around Paris, taking photos of cats and old men wearing berets whilst holding a baguette in their hands.
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