Celebrating Footy and Friendship: Read Our Review of Backyard Footy by Carl Merrison, Illustrated by Samantha Campbell

Backyard Footy follows a cast of footy-crazy kids as they hop through the backyards of their neighbourhood in the Kimberley, collecting equipment and friends to play with as they go.

Jy is playing football alone in his small backyard in the Kimberley, but when he accidentally kicks the ball over the fence, a footy adventure begins! Footy by yourself is fun but playing with mates is better.

This is the first title in the joyful black&write! fellowship-winning picture book series, Backyard Sports, by Carl Merrison. A respected Jaru/Kija man from the Halls Creek area, Merrison was WA’s runner-up Australian of the Year – Local Hero in 2016, and has worked for over ten years alongside Aboriginal youth as a mentor and coach.

This isn’t Merrison’s first time writing about sports – My Deadly Boots was all about having self-confidence on and off the field. Merrison’s belief in and commitment to fostering community and kids’ wellbeing shines through on every page of this latest big-hearted adventure.

Celebrated illustrator Samantha Campbell, who also worked on My Deadly Boots, brings Merrison’s colourful cast of characters to life with expressive, action-filled scenes. Kids will love recognising themselves and their friends in the crowd as Jy’s footy-loving crew grows with every turn of the page.

Backyard Footy is a precious picture book that conveys a simple but vital message with a lot of heart. It celebrates the importance of life’s small, joyful moments. In the midst of our societal ‘loneliness epidemic’, it’s easy to forget that something as simple as jumping the fence to kick a footy with a neighbour can lead to such a powerful sense of belonging and community.

This book will obviously hold a special place in the hearts of footy-mad kids, but it’s a heartwarming and immersive read for any young reader. Sport is the backdrop, but the importance of friendship, family, and getting involved are the key takeaways.

This delightful adventure proves that the fun only grows with family and friends. It’s a perfect addition to bedtime reading or any classroom shelf. Backyard Footy is sure to inspire requests to hit the oval, so read it on the weekend and make sure you’ve got that footy pumped and ready to go! We recommend it for children aged 3+.

Buy a copy of Backyard Footy here.