Backyard Footy; Carl Merrison, illustrated by Samantha Campbell

From the author and illustrator collaboration behind Deadly Boots comes another sporty story that is the first in a series of titles under the name Backyard Sports.

Jy loves kicking the footy around in the backyard. He marks, he kicks, he marks, he kicks. When one of his kicks flies over his neighbour’s fence and into their backyard it starts a footy adventure. Balls are kicked, marks are taken, handballs are thrown and tackles are made. Everyone wants to get involved and that’s awesome because footy on your own is fun but footy with friends is the best…

Join Jy and his friends in a footy-fest that rapidly grows as more participants get involved, each adding a new skill, before the group finally make it all the way to the local oval. Backyard Footycomes with the tagline, ‘Footy by yourself is fun but playing with your mates is better,’ and it certainly delivers on that.

Growing up when tech was very different to what it is today my childhood joy was found in the simple things. It is easy for children of today to become socially isolated and to not have meaningful connections with their peers; living in a world of tech where games with mates are played online and so called ‘friends’ are counted by the number of social media followers. This is a joyous ode to physical connections, spontaneous participation and a brilliant reminder of some of life’s purest of joys.

Fun, friendship, community and culture are at the heart of this lively read that celebrates the simple stuff, where being outside with your mates and running free is really all you need. Kids the world over love to play. It is a universal trait that is globally shared and even kids in the remote reaches of Western Australia, specifically the Kimberley, love nothing more than running without a care in the world and having fun. Jy and friends are united by the footy, a shared passion bringing everyone together in the most wonderful and fun-filled of ways.

Instantly appealing to sport-loving and footy-mad kids, other children will thoroughly enjoy the sweet, colourful and energetic story. Told in simple text and featuring playful illustrations, readers will love exploring Jy’s home where the soil is deep red, the plains are expansive and the oval is backdropped by mountains and a warming sun.

Wholesome, feel-good reading that is sure to get little ones outside and kicking the footy over the neighbour’s fence in anticipation of a sporting adventure much like Jy’s. At the very least, a trip to the local oval with a few friends is in order.

Recommended for 3+.

With huge thanks to Hachette and Lothian for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review.