The Backyard Games 

 The Backyard Games 

Reviewed By  Grasshopper2       November 3, 2024

 

Author  Alister Nicholson and Tom Jellett

Distributor:      A&U Children's
ISBN:                 9781761180927
Publisher:         Allen and Unwin; Imprint A&U Children's
Release Date:   November 2024  

Website:    https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Alister-Nicholson-and-Tom-Jellett-Backyard-Games-9781761180927 

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With the excitement and build up for the Olympic Games this year, it is only natural that children become inspired to follow in their heroes’ footsteps. The front end pages of The Backyard Games show some sporting equipment and give snippets of information. We read that John Landy stopped in a race to help an opponent who had fallen, then went on to win the race.

The story begins with children getting ready to present their own games. They have planned and have their own venue. Then each competitor selects a country to represent. The parade is around the clothesline, but luckily the sausage sizzle has been set up and soon the quest for gold will begin. Weightlifting, archery, bike racing and javelin throwing are some of the events attempted.

These are the happiest, tiredest children who have had immense fun. They have handed out medals, played anthems and are ready for home until “Yumi cries out, How “bout my place tomorrow?” The drawings add details to the text and cause many pauses to examine the activities and the equipment. The text is in rhyme and adds to the spirit of the fun.  This surely promotes an interest in participating in sport, and shows the many areas children could excel in.

Childrens, Fiction