Belonging

Written and illustrated by Ambelin Kwaymullina

Magabala Books 2026

Reviewed by Mia Macrossan

Ambelin Kwaymullina is an award-winning Aboriginal author and illustrator from the Palyku people of Western Australia. Her books for children (ranging from picture books to YA dystopian novels) have won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, the Aurealis Award, and multiple CBCA notable listings. Belonging is a picture book for young children that revels in the glory of colour while stating in simple dignified language First Nations peoples’ relationship to the land they live on.

Everything in country is alive, connected and related to family. Colonisers brought with them a different story, terra nullius, used to dispossess First Nations peoples and claim ownership of Countries. But First Nations peoples held on to connections and never gave up our belonging to our Countries. Ambelin ends on a positive hopeful note asking ‘what stories will make the future?‘ and making a plea for listening, understanding, and respect to make new pathways.

The bold bright colours and patterns used throughout give this message a cheerful, positive tone complementing the text. A bold black font has been chosen for the statements, each presented in a box with a different coloured background which makes the words stand out from the enticing illustrations.

The back matter give more details about the First Nations concept of belonging and the Western legal concept of ‘sovereignty’. She also explains that in Aboriginal systems it is the rhythms of the words rather than commas or full stops that carry pauses and endings, so the only punctuation used is one question mark.

Libraries and schools will find this an attractive and useful book to explain the concept of belonging to very young children.