Open Your Heart to Country

April 5, 2022
Open Your Heart to Country is the stunning fourth picture book from Dharug woman and award-winning author/illustrator Jasmine Seymour. It’s a story of welcome and belonging told in two languages, illustrated using Seymour’s signature technique, which combines painting, printmaking and digital collage. Beside the central narrative, which curves across the page in tender, mellifluous English, is a second version in Seymour’s native Dharug language. English translations of the Dharug words are also given, as well as a brief glossary of phonetics, enabling English-language readers to ‘hear’ how ideas might be expressed by Dharug speakers. Inky night skies form the backdrop for the book’s vibrant native flora and fauna, waterways and people, expanding the narrative into a stunning, dreamlike work of art that celebrates Indigenous land and culture. Layered and watermarked images of children dancing and birds flying across the page give the story a sense of timelessness and wisdom. Through the story children dance with bare feet upon the earth, float on a river, and listen to the song of the land, as they move towards an experience of reconnection and reawakening and learn to open their heart to Country. This is an exquisite book whose simple, lyrical narrative and feeling of gentle encouragement will appeal to readers aged three and up.  Jacqui Davies is a freelance writer and reviewer based in South Australia. Read her interview with Jasmine Seymour about Open Your Heart to Country here.